Ramaphosa back in the limelight

This article by William M Gumede on the Rhamaphosa entering the ANC presidential race has been published on the BBC news website.

He clainds that:

Shortly after Nelson Mandela became president in 1994, he recommended to the ANC inner circle that his presidential successor should be Cyril Ramaphosa.

The suggestion was declined. The group of former exiles who were then very powerful in the party were adamant that Mr Mandela's successor be drawn from among them.

They insisted on Thabo Mbeki, the heir named by former ANC leader-in-exile Oliver Tambo on his deathbed.

Mr Mandela then proposed constitutional amendments that would see Mr Ramaphosa - who cut his teeth in the domestic wing of the ANC - becoming the prime minister under an Mbeki presidency.

But Mr Mbeki and his supporters did not want a serious rival so close to the throne.

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