President Cyril Ramaphosa finds himself in a precarious position. Ironically, it is the same space his predecessors Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki were squeezed into.
Confidence in Cyril Ramaphosa wanes
The legacies of heads of state that came after Nelson Mandela are stained with low public confidence and for South Africa’s fifth president, it is no different.
In his first term, Ramaphosa has been through it all. He leads a political party that is rooted in factionalism and his support base within its structures is thinning by the day.
Since he took over reins from Zuma, it seems that he has failed to root out corruption. The most recent example of this is in the Special Investigating Unit’s report on PPE fraud.
Most important, perhaps, is his government’s failure to tackle unemployment and refurbish regressive policies that hinder growth.
The Covid-19 pandemic was, until Sunday’s media briefing held by Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, an easy scapegoat for the president’s inefficiencies.
South Africans want Ramphosa booted
However, as we have come to find out, Ramaphosa’s presidency could not manage the coordinated rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine programme.
This sentiment was central to “Ramaphosa must fall” cries that reverberated across social media. Here are some of the reactions we picked out on social media:
The sooner we realize that we are on our own and no government will save us the better. Then we start to act accordingly as citizens. Awu sizofa dadewethu kababa! #RamaphosaMustFall
— Nduduzo Mkhwanazi (@nduduzoEdison) February 8, 2021
SA was NEVER gonna achieve their target of vaccinating healthcare workers by mid April to begin with. This is South Africa. Everything is good and logical on paper but a different issue on implementation. They still don’t reach HIV Testing targets. 2021. #RamaphosaMustFall
— Naledi Chirwa (@NalediChirwa) February 8, 2021
All SOEs are in a state of disaster, and Pravin Jamnandas still has a job. #RamaphosaMustFall pic.twitter.com/3zHoV7aHXt
— Hloka Mafunjo (@Iam_Hloka1) February 8, 2021
The African gods are not happy with Nascrec outcomes!
— Andi Motsepe (@AndiswaMadikazi) February 7, 2021
A man who slaughtered Marikana workers was rewarded with presidency, we the people of South Africa are paying the price!
The spirit of Mambush will not rest until Ramaphosa falls! #RamaphosaMustFall!
1.Continuous loadsheding
— Tonny (@Malesel11893042) February 7, 2021
.High unemployment
.Covid PPE corruption
.purchasing of ineffective vaccine
.Protection of incompetent Pravin
.The removal of blacks from top management positions etc.. #RamaphosaMustFall pic.twitter.com/kSU7LnuxcB
Hit like if you agree he must be removed #RamaphosaMustFall pic.twitter.com/TsbeN9vF4I
— Diego_Chuene (@Diegochuene) February 7, 2021
This country is in the hand of real fools! Ramaphosa is a principal fool! Idiot!
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) February 7, 2021
How do you buy vaccines that are ineffective? And only discover that they are expiring in April when they arrive in the county?
These are pure grounds for removal! #RamaphosaMustFall