This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/28/mamphela-ramphele-south-africa
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Mamphela Ramphele tipped to launch political party in South Africa | Mamphela Ramphele tipped to launch political party in South Africa |
| (7 days later) | |
| Anti-apartheid activist, soulmate of the late Steve Biko, high-flying academic and businesswoman, eloquent nemesis of government: Dr Mamphela Ramphele, said to be planning her own political party, is seen by some as the woman who can shake up South Africa and restore the nation's moral compass. | Anti-apartheid activist, soulmate of the late Steve Biko, high-flying academic and businesswoman, eloquent nemesis of government: Dr Mamphela Ramphele, said to be planning her own political party, is seen by some as the woman who can shake up South Africa and restore the nation's moral compass. |
| Media reports suggesting that Ramphele was on a fundraising drive for a launch into politics led to speculation that her anti-corruption credentials could woo black middle-class voters away from the dominant African National Congress (ANC) in next year's elections. | Media reports suggesting that Ramphele was on a fundraising drive for a launch into politics led to speculation that her anti-corruption credentials could woo black middle-class voters away from the dominant African National Congress (ANC) in next year's elections. |
| However, some commentators remain sceptical about Ramphele's ability to attract big-name allies to take on not only the might of the ANC but also the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), itself a repository of anti-government discontent. | However, some commentators remain sceptical about Ramphele's ability to attract big-name allies to take on not only the might of the ANC but also the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), itself a repository of anti-government discontent. |
| The 65-year-old went to the US this month and told at least one audience she was raising funds for a political party, South Africa's City Press newspaper reported. A source told the paper Ramphele had claimed she was "now going into politics to save the country". | The 65-year-old went to the US this month and told at least one audience she was raising funds for a political party, South Africa's City Press newspaper reported. A source told the paper Ramphele had claimed she was "now going into politics to save the country". |
| Tony Leon, a former leader of the DA, said a friend had attended one of Ramphele's meetings in Boston. "A friend of mine said she made a big pitch: she's going to start a political party," he said. "I presume she should make her intentions clear before she suffers death by a thousand leaks." | Tony Leon, a former leader of the DA, said a friend had attended one of Ramphele's meetings in Boston. "A friend of mine said she made a big pitch: she's going to start a political party," he said. "I presume she should make her intentions clear before she suffers death by a thousand leaks." |
| Ramphele has long been regarded as a potential saviour, a morally untainted antidote to a political system mired in corruption and cronyism. She showed her mettle as an anti-apartheid activist while studying medicine at the University of Natal in the 1970s and was one of the founders of the black consciousness movement. Her relationship with Biko was intellectual and romantic – she bore his son – until his murder by apartheid police. | Ramphele has long been regarded as a potential saviour, a morally untainted antidote to a political system mired in corruption and cronyism. She showed her mettle as an anti-apartheid activist while studying medicine at the University of Natal in the 1970s and was one of the founders of the black consciousness movement. Her relationship with Biko was intellectual and romantic – she bore his son – until his murder by apartheid police. |
| In 1975 she founded one of South Africa's first primary healthcare initiatives outside the public sector. From 1977 to 1984 the apartheid regime banished her to the town of Tzaneen. In 1996 she became vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, the first black woman to hold such a position at a South African university. | In 1975 she founded one of South Africa's first primary healthcare initiatives outside the public sector. From 1977 to 1984 the apartheid regime banished her to the town of Tzaneen. In 1996 she became vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, the first black woman to hold such a position at a South African university. |
| She went on to become a managing director of the World Bank and has founded two civic organisations: the Letsema Circle, a health reform programme, and the Citizens Movement for Social Change. Ramphele has also served on numerous company boards and is chairwoman of the mining company Gold Fields, where she has so far escaped the kind of criticism reserved for other beneficiaries of the troubled mining sector. | She went on to become a managing director of the World Bank and has founded two civic organisations: the Letsema Circle, a health reform programme, and the Citizens Movement for Social Change. Ramphele has also served on numerous company boards and is chairwoman of the mining company Gold Fields, where she has so far escaped the kind of criticism reserved for other beneficiaries of the troubled mining sector. |
| She has joined the likes of Desmond Tutu as a conscience of the nation and articulate scourge of the ANC. "The mistake we made in 1994 is that we should have thanked the warriors of our struggles, decorated them with gold, given them huge pensions and houses, and let them go so that we can build a democratic government dispensation," she said last year. | She has joined the likes of Desmond Tutu as a conscience of the nation and articulate scourge of the ANC. "The mistake we made in 1994 is that we should have thanked the warriors of our struggles, decorated them with gold, given them huge pensions and houses, and let them go so that we can build a democratic government dispensation," she said last year. |
| It is thought that Ramphele's decision may have been triggered by Jacob Zuma's convincing re-election as ANC leader last month, a clear sign that the governing party has no intention of changing course. | It is thought that Ramphele's decision may have been triggered by Jacob Zuma's convincing re-election as ANC leader last month, a clear sign that the governing party has no intention of changing course. |
| But Leon cast doubt on Ramphele proving a game-changer, questioning her popular appeal. "If you go into squatter camps and townships, I would be very surprised if more than one in a hundred people have heard of her," he said. "The DA have been working hard on the ground there for 10 years and the ANC have been there for a hundred years." | But Leon cast doubt on Ramphele proving a game-changer, questioning her popular appeal. "If you go into squatter camps and townships, I would be very surprised if more than one in a hundred people have heard of her," he said. "The DA have been working hard on the ground there for 10 years and the ANC have been there for a hundred years." |
| Justice Malala, a political analyst and columnist, argued that Ramphele could have a profound impact. "The big battle for the 2014 election will be around the black middle class in particular, a class the ANC has struggled with since Jacob Zuma came into power. The big issue for many is Zuma's moral ambiguity around corruption and other issues. They need an alternative and they're not comfortable with a white-led alternative like the DA." | Justice Malala, a political analyst and columnist, argued that Ramphele could have a profound impact. "The big battle for the 2014 election will be around the black middle class in particular, a class the ANC has struggled with since Jacob Zuma came into power. The big issue for many is Zuma's moral ambiguity around corruption and other issues. They need an alternative and they're not comfortable with a white-led alternative like the DA." |
| He added: "Mamphela Ramphele is the kind of individual who many in the black middle class can identify with. She touches all the right bases: highly educated, well spoken. And given her background, she's got a fantastic narrative arc for post-apartheid South Africa – it's almost Obama-esque." | He added: "Mamphela Ramphele is the kind of individual who many in the black middle class can identify with. She touches all the right bases: highly educated, well spoken. And given her background, she's got a fantastic narrative arc for post-apartheid South Africa – it's almost Obama-esque." |
| What Biko would think of today's South Africa is one of the great imponderables of the country's politics. Ramphele should not be regarded as his torchbearer, according to Andile Mngxitama, co-editor of Biko Lives! Contesting the Legacies of Steve Biko. | What Biko would think of today's South Africa is one of the great imponderables of the country's politics. Ramphele should not be regarded as his torchbearer, according to Andile Mngxitama, co-editor of Biko Lives! Contesting the Legacies of Steve Biko. |
| "She does not have a grassroots appeal," he said. "She's linked to the white capital mining sector. She can't claim to be part of black consciousness. She'll get criticism from so many quarters I don't know if she'll be able to survive it." | "She does not have a grassroots appeal," he said. "She's linked to the white capital mining sector. She can't claim to be part of black consciousness. She'll get criticism from so many quarters I don't know if she'll be able to survive it." |
| Attempts to contact Ramphele were unsuccessful. Reports suggest she will launch her political party in the capital, Pretoria, on 12 February. | Attempts to contact Ramphele were unsuccessful. Reports suggest she will launch her political party in the capital, Pretoria, on 12 February. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |