{"id":222970,"date":"2024-11-06T12:25:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T12:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/za\/2024\/11\/06\/how-donald-trumps-victory-could-cause-cyril-ramaphosas-unravelling\/"},"modified":"2024-11-06T12:25:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T12:25:51","slug":"how-donald-trumps-victory-could-cause-cyril-ramaphosas-unravelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/za\/2024\/11\/06\/how-donald-trumps-victory-could-cause-cyril-ramaphosas-unravelling\/","title":{"rendered":"How Donald Trump\u2019s victory could cause Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s unravelling"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The Donald Trump victory in the US Elections has my news team divided. <\/p>\n

Some feel it sets America on a dark path of diminishing women\u2019s rights, growing right-wing Christian fundamentalism, and a drive towards a nationalism that will seek to advance unipolar hegemony.<\/p>\n

That last point stands at a stark and jarring disjunct with the goals of BRICS, which seeks to break from Western hegemony and drive multipolarity.<\/p>\n

Smack bang in the middle of these opposing agendas is South Africa \u2014 a strategic partner of the US, the gateway to Africa as its largest economy. The US is second only to China as South Africa\u2019s largest trading partner. <\/p>\n

So what does a Trump victory mean for South Africa in this context?<\/p>\n

We all know what Trump is like \u2014 when he was the 45th President of the United States of America he behaved like a spoilt toddler, unpredictable in diplomacy, decisive and violent. But when the prospect of a liberal Kamala Harris presented itself as the only other viable option to Trump, America chose the devil it knows.<\/p>\n

At least with Trump, you know what you\u2019re going to get. You know what to expect. He\u2019s predictable in his unpredictability. <\/p>\n

Trump went up against the establishment, preaching anti-woke rhetoric that spoke to the heart of Middle America, playing on their fears the way one would psyche up an armed force before a daunting battle, or a plucky underdog ice hockey team before the final play-off match. And it worked. <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s charisma and unapologetic bravado and machismo won through.<\/p>\n

Compare this to our own lame-duck president Cyril Ramaphosa, flip-flopping his way through critical policy decisions, leading a socialist-founded liberation movement into the pro-business centrist neo-liberal arms of a former opposition party that found diminished support in these last general elections for the establishment of the Government of National Unity. <\/p>\n

The ANC and DA are ideologically opposed, but as GNU bedchambermates Ramaphosa allows John Steenhuisen to run rampant and spew statements that run contrary to the government\u2019s position. <\/p>\n

In what world can you have a fellow leader of a government claim that an ally like Russia is Cyril\u2019s ally, and not South Africa\u2019s? Would Trump abide such a slap in the face? The DA and ANC disagree on so much, it\u2019s a surprise the Government of National Unity gets anything done. <\/p>\n

Cyril\u2019s partners in government stage marches against government\u2019s BELA Bill. Cyril\u2019s partners in government claim victory for things the ANC government set in motion years ago. Cyril\u2019s partners in government would have the GNU put the interests of business over the interests of the people. <\/p>\n

Not Trump. <\/p>\n

Trump, for all his failings, convictions, misogyny, is a strong, decisive leader. This resonated with American voters. <\/p>\n

Cyril, on the other hand, seems to go wherever the wind of opportunity takes him. He\u2019ll smile while shaking Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping\u2019s hands, support Palestine\u2019s bid for freedom, while cosying up to the US even while it backs Israel, and allow Steenhuisen to speak ill of Russia. <\/p>\n

A Trump presidency will test Ramaphosa\u2019s resolve in some key areas:<\/p>\n