The DA, or the political party of the Democratic Alliance, wants president Cyril Ramaphosa to account for cadre deployment and the role he played in state capture while he was deputy. State capture is a type of corruption where there are private interests that significantly influence a state’s decision making. The ANC says that Ramaphosa can end state capture by answering for cadre deployment. There isn’t much to hold against the president, but the recent personal protective equipment scandal with his spokesperson Khusela Diko along with Bosasa’s R500 000 donation, have concerned a few people. John Steenhuisen, leader of the DA, called Ramaphosa the ‘Emperor of empty promises’ and ‘high king of hypocrisy,’ and claims that Ramaphosa has as much cadre deployment as Zuma, and believes that state capture continues to live on.
This article highlights the opinions and suspicions of corruption in the political works of South Africa. With Ramaphosa as president, there have been many accounts of fraud and cadre deployment that could easily be linked to him. This article is important because it provides an opinion and brings attention to the public of how the president is doing his job. More national attention on the issue could change the urgency of the situation, possibly leading to a call to have Ramaphosa removed from office. The DA political party can use this article as well as other news to gather support and gain more attention and members for their party, therefore changing the balance of power.
Let’s break this down into levels of analysis to determine the causes. On a state level, the ruling party of South Africa currently has power in the presidency, and is using that power to conduct subtle corrupt actions. The Democratic Alliance party has taken notice to these corrupt actions, and are actively trying to bring attention to try and take as much power away as possible. On a personal level, Ramaphosa has claimed in the past that he will “end the practice of poorly qualified individuals being parachuted into positions of authority through political patronage”, but has done, himself, exactly what the quote accuses. John Steenhuisen, leader of the opposing party, publicly claims that Ramaphosa is corrupt, and campigns for his removal and the powering of his own party.