Cyril Ramaphosa criticised for putting his arm around a woman during a Durban visit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has faced criticism over a campaign encounter in Durban after a video showed him wrapping his arm around a woman’s shoulders while speaking to her during an ANC campaign visit. Ramaphosa was in eThekwini as the ANC stepped up its efforts to win support ahead of the local government elections. The moment drew attention online, with critics questioning why he needed to put his arm around the woman during their conversation. The criticism focused on his physical contact with the woman, rather than the campaign visit itself.

One thing the post leaves open is what the two were discussing when he put his arm around her, since the clip does not set out the content of the conversation or whether she was comfortable with the contact. The post also does not say where in eThekwini the encounter took place or when. Those details matter because they would establish the context of the moment. Without them, the clip shows only the gesture, and the criticism rests on how it was interpreted rather than on what was actually happening.

People reacting to the post criticised Ramaphosa, with some questioning why he needed to put his arm around the woman and others saying the gesture was inappropriate for a sitting president during a campaign visit. Some defended him, saying the contact appeared friendly and that the criticism had read too much into a brief moment.

What remains unresolved is whether Ramaphosa or the presidency has commented on the criticism or whether the woman has responded. The post does not establish whether she welcomed the contact or how the exchange ended. The public is waiting for more information, because the clip has fuelled criticism of his conduct without any confirmation of how the moment was received.

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