Cyril Ramaphosa on Communism

Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly declared himself a committed socialist, a stance he highlighted during the Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebration in July 2018. He expressed admiration for Nelson Mandela's shift towards appreciating the contribution of communists to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Despite his personal wealth and business background, Ramaphosa has embraced the political ideology underpinning the ANC's current framework, frequently referencing the NDR, which has its roots in Marxist-Leninist theory. This self-identification as a socialist, rather than a capitalist, suggests a political alignment that informs his policy outlook, despite the historical failures of practiced communism globally.

His alignment is seen within the context of the ANC's long-standing strategic alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP). Critics point to his quoting Karl Marx at the same event where others quoted different figures, and his use of the Frelimo slogan, as evidence of his ideological commitment. Furthermore, the SACP has positively reacted to some of his government's stances, such as accelerating land restitution, while noting that capitalist markets sustain the resulting imbalances. The President has never publicly distanced himself from these socialist or NDR associations, leading to the conclusion that he fully embraces this ideological position.