From holding Mamphela in high regard, her recent behaviour casts her in a completely different light.

Mamphela Ramphele’s recent actions since creating the so-called political movement Agang, have been surreal to say the least. It commenced with the establishment of a political movement. Instead of presenting an alternative to the ANC what did she do: she denigrated the ANC’s performance? Not that the concerns raised were in any way an inaccurate exposition of the current South African situation but what a potential voter needs is some form of action plan.

 Some History

Mamphela Ramphele was born in December 1947 and is a former activist against apartheid, a medical doctor, an academic and businesswoman. She was one of several lovers linked to Steve Biko, with whom she had two children whilst Biko was already married. Amongst her major achievements were being Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Town and a one-time Managing Director at the World Bank. Subsequently Ramphele founded a political party Agang South Africa in February 2013 and finally withdrew from politics in July 2014.

Ramphele’s first exposure to racism arose when she witnessed a conflict in 1955 at age 8 between a racist Dominee and the people of the village of Kranspoort. It also contributed to her political awakening.

Steve Biko

Like most young Blacks of the period Ramphele’s political awakening came at a very young age. Her sister Mashadi was expelled from high school after she demonstrated against the celebrations of South Africa’s becoming a Republic in 1961. Ramphele also remembers her parents discussing the detention of her uncle under the 90-day detention clause.

In 1967, Ramphele enrolled for pre-medical courses at the University of the North. In 1968, she was accepted into the University of Natal Medical School, then the only institution that allowed black students to enrol without prior permission from the government.

While at university, Ramphele became increasingly involved in student politics and anti-apartheid activism, becoming one of the founders of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM), where she met Steve Biko. As a member of the BCM, she was crucially involved in organising and working with community development programmes. Biko and Ramphele had two children Lerato and Hlumelo Biko.

Black Consciousness Movement

Ramphele joined the University of Cape Town as a research fellow in 1986 and was appointed as one of its Deputy Vice-Chancellors in 1991. She was appointed to the post of Vice-Chancellor of the university in September 1996, thereby becoming the first black woman to hold such a position at a South African university.

In 2000, Ramphele became one of the four Managing Directors of the World Bank. She was tasked with overseeing the strategic positioning and operations of the World Bank Institute as well as the Vice-Presidency of External Affairs. She is the first South African to hold this position.

Recent History

Not only her academic record but also her stint at the World Bank indicated that Ramphele was destined for far greater things in South Africa. In all the interviews where I heard her speak on 702 Talk Radio, I was impressed not only with her clarity of thought but the vision that she espoused for South Africa.

In my considered opinion, here was a person of integrity and intellect that South Africa so sorely lacked in somebody with her Struggle Credentials.

In 2013, Ramphele expressed interest in returning to South African politics and resigned as the chairperson of Gold Fields. On hearing of her decision in February 2013 to form a new political party, named Agang (Northern Sotho for “Build”), I was disappointed.

From the content of her interviews, I considered Agang and the Democratic Alliance to be occupying the same political space. Given the obstacles to making inroads into the ANC’s hegemony, I would have expected Mamphela to have forged some form of partnership with the DA preferably being given a senior position in the Organisation.

Operating from a basis of merit and competence, they were a natural fit.

On 28 January 2014, Ramphele accepted an invitation from the Democratic Alliance to stand as their presidential candidate in the 2014 General Election. This was an unusual turn of the cards as it implied that Mamphela would, on joining the DA, be immediately elevated to an extremely senior position in the organisation. In many ways, this did not bode well for the DA in that the rising stars such as Mmusi Maimane and Mazibuko could feel slighted by her appointment. There was also the matter of style and personalities. Helen Zille had taken a bold and decisive step in an attempt to break the stranglehold of race based politics in South Africa.

It back fired.

On 31 January 2014, Ramphele issued a statement saying that she would not take up Democratic Alliance party membership and would remain the leader of Agang South Africa, resulting in confusion. After days of uncertainty, on 2 February 2014, Helen Zille stated that Ramphele had reneged on her agreement to stand as the Democratic Alliance’s presidential candidate. Ramphele subsequently apologised for the reversal of her decision, saying that the timing was not right as the reaction to it had shown people were unable to overcome race-based party politics.

From a sanguine perhaps over-optimistic viewpoint of Ramphele, I was shattered. Surely somebody of her stature should have realised that she required a mandate from Agang to enter into these negotiations. Secondly her preconditions for acceptance as a DA Candidate led to only one assumption: she over-rated her worth in South African politics by orders of magnitude.

Some critics have then also challenged Ramphele on her drawing on Steve Biko’s legacy in her political campaigns.

The die was cast. Agang was in disarray and distrustful of its leader, Mamphela. In politics this can only result in catastrophe and it did. Agang only garnered two seats in the National Assembly of South Africa.

In a fit of pique, Mamphela decided not to award one of the two seats to herself as was her right as the party’s leader. Shortly afterwards Mamphela was suspended from the very Organisation to which she gave birth.

Without Ramphele at its helm, Agang’s future is grim.

Rumours have now circulated that the real issue with Agang was Mamphela’s disdain for consultation or discussion. Instead, it is alleged, that her strong sense of not suffering fools gladly overrode common sense. People require affirmation that their viewpoint is at least being acknowledged and considered. Instead her obvious disdain for having to present a reason for an action alienated the members from her.

In retrospect, her decision to renege on her agreement with the DA was fortuitous for the Opposition Party. With an arrogant person and an exaggerated ego to match, it would have created internal ructions within the DA.

All Organisations have factions. It is merely the Leader’s perspicacity, negotiating abilities and diplomatic skills which prevents a dysfunctional organisation from arising.

Mamphela Ramphele clearly has none of these skills.

In no way does this detract from her enormous accomplishments. It is tinged with regret that Mamphela has not fulfilled the high hopes that I possessed for her as an agent for change in South Africa.