Ramaphosa against the wall facing political issues on all fronts
From being at loggerheads with two former statesmen, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, to diplomatic encounters with US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladamir Putin.
Zuma is demanding to know why Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, hasn't been fired. Responding to Zuma's legal team with a two-page document, Ramaphosa says the courts have already dealt with the matter.
Thabo Mbeki and his foundation has withdrawn from the National Dialogue. Ramaphosa is advising not to let the withdrawal of the Legacy Foundations distract from the initiative's purpose.
Now, Mbeki has also been in the courts, joined by his former Justice Minister, Brigitte Mabandla. They approached the High Court in a bid to intervene in the R167-million damages claim by families of victims of apartheid-era atrocities. The case has become a thorny issue.
Pretoria has had three crucial phone calls with Washington, the Kremlin and Kyiv. The most important one being over trade relations with the United States. President Ramaphosa still believes that Donald Trump's new reciprocal import tariffs can be reviewed.
Some market analysts say Trump is playing politics, and South Africa should continue with negotiations.
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