If you’re looking at South Africa right now, you’re seeing a country that basically reinvented its entire political DNA overnight. At the center of this whirlwind is President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle he’s still standing.
For years, the African National Congress (ANC) ran the show with zero competition. Then came May 2024. The party’s support tanked to about 40%, a historic low that forced Ramaphosa into a corner. Instead of a messy collapse, he did something radical: he built a "Government of National Unity" (GNU). This isn't just a coalition; it’s a high-stakes experiment involving former rivals like the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
The President in South Africa: A Tightrope Walk in 2026
By early 2026, the honeymoon phase of this unity government is long gone. Ramaphosa is currently juggling the demands of ten different political parties while trying to keep the lights on—literally. While the rolling blackouts (loadshedding) that defined the early 2020s have stabilized thanks to the work of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the economy is still a tough nut to crack.
The President isn't just a politician; he’s a negotiator by trade. He cut his teeth as a union leader and then as the man who helped draft the country’s constitution in the 90s. That "long game" strategy is exactly what he's using now to keep the GNU from imploding.
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Why the 2024 Election Changed Everything
Before the 2024 vote, the ANC had a comfortable majority. They didn't have to ask for permission. Now? Every major policy—from the National Health Insurance (NHI) to land reform—has to go through a "sufficient consensus" filter. This means if 60% of the parties in the agreement don't like it, it doesn't happen.
This has made Ramaphosa's job incredibly slow. Frustratingly slow, for some. But it has also brought a weird kind of stability. The markets have actually reacted fairly well to the inclusion of the DA and other business-friendly parties. It’s a "checks and balances" system that South Africa has never really had in the executive branch before.
Foreign Policy and the "Trump Factor"
If you think domestic politics is messy, look at the international stage. As of January 2026, South Africa is finding itself in a bit of a cold war with the United States.
Following the 2024 US election, relations between Pretoria and Washington have soured. There’s been public friction over South Africa’s stance on global conflicts and its case at the International Court of Justice. The US has even floated the idea of 30% tariffs on South African goods.
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Ramaphosa’s response? He’s been traveling. Just this month, he was in the United Arab Emirates for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. He’s looking for new investors, new partners, and a way to diversify the economy so the country isn't so reliant on Western aid or trade that could vanish with a single tweet from a foreign leader.
The Real Challenges on the Ground
- Youth Unemployment: It’s still north of 40% for many demographics. This is the ticking time bomb Ramaphosa has to defuse.
- Crime: It's a constant. The President has been under massive pressure to reform the police service and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
- Infrastructure: Beyond electricity, the water systems and the freight rail lines (Transnet) are the next big hurdles. If the trains don't run, the mines can't export. If the mines can't export, the currency tanks.
What People Get Wrong About "The Buffalo"
They call him "The Buffalo." It’s a nickname from a high-stakes game auction years ago, but it fits his political style: patient, sturdy, and hard to knock over.
Critics often say he's "indecisive." But if you look at how he handled the 2024 post-election chaos, you’ll see it wasn't indecision—it was a calculated wait. He let the smaller parties realize they couldn't govern without him. He waited until the firebrands like Julius Malema (EFF) and Jacob Zuma (MK Party) essentially sidelined themselves by refusing to join the unity framework.
It was a masterclass in letting your enemies tire themselves out.
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What’s Next for the President?
The big date on the calendar right now is February 12, 2026. That’s when Ramaphosa will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Expect him to lean heavily into "Operation Vulindlela"—that’s his pet project for cutting red tape and speeding up structural reforms.
He needs a win. With local government elections looming in the near future, the ANC needs to show that being in a coalition hasn't made them toothless.
Actionable Insights for Following SA Politics
- Watch the "Sufficient Consensus": Don't just look at what the ANC wants. Look at what the DA’s John Steenhuisen or the IFP’s leadership is saying. If they aren't on board, the President's plan is dead in the water.
- Monitor the G20: South Africa is the only African member of the G20. How Ramaphosa uses that platform in 2026 will tell you a lot about his plan to navigate the "US vs. China" trade war.
- Check the Rand: In South Africa, the currency is the ultimate scoreboard. If the GNU shows signs of cracking, the Rand drops instantly.
South Africa is in uncharted territory. It’s no longer a one-party state, and it’s not quite a traditional coalition. It’s something in between. Whether Ramaphosa can keep this "Government of National Unity" together until the end of his term will be the defining story of his legacy. He’s trying to prove that diversity in government isn't a weakness, but the only way a fractured nation can actually move forward.
To stay updated, keep a close eye on the official Presidency website and the weekly "From the Desk of the President" newsletters, which often signal his tactical shifts before they hit the mainstream news cycle.