SA president Cyril Ramaphosa goes off-piste in Davos - again

Loading player...
The annual Brand South Africa dinner in Davos was so heavily oversubscribed this year that I only got a seat because of some late cancellations. A huge difference to recent years where there were always plenty of no-shows – such was the decline in the nation’s appeal while Jacob Zuma ruled the roost.
Last year in Davos Cyril Ramaphosa led the delegation, even though still the deputy president.  His impromptu speech, which I recorded on my iPhone, went viral with tens of thousands of South Africans encourage by his message.
He took the mike again tonight, and once more delivered an uplifting message without referring to a single note – or that politician’s crutch, the autocue. And once again he delivered as inspiring a message as you’re likely to hear in the Alpine resort. It was also under half the length of last year’s.
Once again my trusty iPhone did the recording so apologies for the less than broadcast quality. And to give you a better feel of the mood, the recording starts as SA’s president takes the microphone – bantering with his Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, with whom the rumour mill said there was friction after his late arrival at the pre-Davos breakfast last week.
Pic: Greg Beadle
  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23 Jan 2019 6PM English South Africa Investing · Business News

Other recent episodes

Kallie Kriel: AfriForum’s legal eagles to swoop on “Land Grab” Malema

In this interview with Chris Steyn, Kallie Kriel, the CEO of AfriForum, describes the legal battle being fought against the Expropriation Act in the Cape High Court this week. Detailing the implications of the act in current form, Kriel warns that after the Local Government Elections in November, municipalities under…
4 Aug 4AM 16 min

BN Daybreak: Record FSCA fines; New police bosses; US-China AI rivalries; Trump warns Iran

In today's episode, we cover South Africa's crowning as Africa's ransomware capital and the FSCA's record R2.8 billion in fines, including action against the Banxso deepfake scam. We also discuss the appointment of seasoned provincial police commissioners and new anti-corruption progress. Globally, we unpack President Trump's tariff lawsuits, OpenAI's security…
3 Aug 11PM 14 min

Dr Lennit Max: Non-racial, merit-based appointments of four new police commissioners

In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, former Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Dr. Lennit Max hails the appointments of four new provincial commissioners. “This time around I am very pleased that the Acting National Commissioner in her wisdom decided that there's merit among people of colour.” He points out…
3 Aug 8AM 33 min