This is according to political analyst at the University of the Free State, Dr. Sethulego Matebesi. He adds he believes that Ramaphosa’s strategy is to rather use state institutions such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as vehicles through which to take action against individuals within the party who have been accused of corruption, rather than ridding the party of these individuals himself as this could anger and possibly alienate some members of factions within the party. 

Speaking on Rampahosa’s silence on the allegations of corruption which have for several months been levelled against Ace Magashule, who is the party’s national Secretary-General, Matebesi said Ramaphosa’s reluctance to act on Magashule may make many in the party think he is not serious about his renewal project.  

Magashule has in recent weeks dominated news headlines after investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh published a book, titled "Gangster State", wherein he exposes Magashule's alleged web of state capture during his tenure as the Premier of the Free State from 2009 to 2018. 

While Matebesi says he believes that Ramaphosa will be a huge draw-card for the ANC's traditional members, who the party may have over the years lost to other opposition parties, in addition to tackling the matter of corrupt leaders within the party he also faces the challenge of improving service delivery at municipal level if he is to win the confidence of ANC members and South Africans at large. 

As Ramaphosa will renew the confidence of many in the ANC as the ruling party, Matebesi also predicts that the ANC will win the upcoming general elections but says while he anticipates a slight increase in the number of ANC members, this number will not be substantial and he predicts that the party numbers will grow by 2 to 6%.

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