Ramaphosa: The Long Game by Yonela Diko

When Cyril Ramaphosa assumed leadership of the ANC in 2017 and the Republic in 2018, the expectations were monumental: revive a battered economy, root out corruption, and restore the credibility of a fractured state. But how does one unite a deeply divided party while holding its most compromised members to account? This book explores Ramaphosa’s strategic choice to rebuild institutions rather than wield power impulsively, opting for endurance over spectacle, and consensus over confrontation.

Drawing on lessons from the political missteps of his predecessors, Ramaphosa chose to empower the ANC’s Integrity Commission, the NPA, SARS, and other bodies to deliver justice and reform. Critics called him indecisive. However, as the dust settles, many of his fiercest opponents have faded into political obscurity, while the institutions he strengthened continue to shape the party and the state.

From the Phala Phala scandal to the Zuma arrest, from Eskom’s crisis to the global stage, this book chronicles the President’s long-term vision and the short-term sacrifices it demanded. It is a story of political patience, institutional renewal, and a leader who refused to be rushed.