The election of one of the richest businessmen in South Africa to the second highest position in the ruling ANC has been widely welcomed by, among others, the business sector and the international community.
Sixty-year-old Cyril Ramaphosa , a former struggle stalwart, secretary general of the ANC and a leader who played a major role in the drawing up of the new constitution, had to wait nearly 20 years to be elected as Deputy President after he stepped down from politics in 1994.
The comeback of Cyril Ramaphosa, former right-hand man of Nelson Mandela to a top leadership position in the ruling ANC after nearly 20 years appears to be the most positive development that many South Africans, including the business sector, have experienced for some time.
"There is virtually no other potential candidate to lead the country like Cyril Ramaphosa with the kind of pedigree that he has," said Azhar Jarmine, a Johannesburg economic analyst.
"He's a leader who did not take up political position as a means of gaining wealth. I think all that puts him in a better position than virtually anyone else that I can think of to straddle all the interest groups in the country and to lead the country."
Jarmine summed up the reactions of most people, including the private sector, about Ramaphosa's return to active politics.
Ramaphosa slipped out of the political scene and entered the business world in 1994 after Thabo Mbeki was elected one of the Deputy Presidents with F W de Klerk in Nelson Mandela's first democratic
government two decades ago.
He formed the Shanduka Group and today
is one of the wealthiest South Africans with his personal wealth reported to total more than four Billion Rand, that's about 500-million US dollars.
Business leaders attending the ANC conference told me that Ramaphosa's election would be a major boost for the growth of the country's economy.
Martin Mafokeng is a senior official in UB Bank:
"Cyril has been in the trade unions for a while and he's currently in business. So from a business perspective we believe we will share the same aspirations as ordinary business in South Africa. His experience in business will reflect in Government."
Another businessman, George Heyns is the CEO of a manufacturing company:
"We are in the private sector and it is important that we deal with people who understand business but also understand policies that are made in Govenrment. I think Mr Cyril Ramaphosa has maybe seen the gap since he is in the mining industry
that there's need for better policies, there's need for better services and I think he can play a role there."
Most delegates here say they are confident that Ramaphosa will use his business and political acumen to lead the country.
"Cyril is a tried and tested cadre and is well respected and has done well in business," said one delegate from the Gauteng Province.
He added: "So if you can manage business like that and became a billionaire then you will be a good leader."
Another delegate from the Free State province said: "The people of SA and the continent are quite impressed and happy that finally he has come out to lead. So we are are looking up to him to take over the country because I think he is bringing back the confidence of business into the ANC."
But there are some concerns as well about Ramaphosa's suitability for the post of
ANC deputy president.
A political analyst, Professor Zakhele Bhusilanga, said in an interview that
Ramaphosa's actions during the recent Lonmin Marikana strike and the
killing of 34 miners by police had not placed him in good stead. When the strike deteriorated and took on violent overtones, Ramaphosa had reportedly sent several emails to contacts in Government and the police - calling for action to be taken against "criminal elements".
"Ramaphosa would have a lot of explaining to do now that he was a top leader within the ANC" said Bhusilanga.
"I think the Marikana issue got him into a bit of a tangle. This involved the money to pay for the funerals, the so-called emails that he sent around and of course many people have associated him with that so he got to speak out on that thing."
Veteran Communist Party member and a Deputy Minister, Yunus Carrim, acknowledged in an interview that there were people who were critical of Ramaphosa but pointed out that he would not be operating alone.
"Obviously," he said, "there's a sense of unease that a person who is just not a business person but a very wealthy person is in that position and could possibly be future president".
"There is some unease but there is a recoginition even from the left that he is going to add value. He is part of a team and by no means dominated by the private sector."
Many people would like to see Ramaphosa assume the top post when Zuma steps down, and they are hoping that this could be as early as 2014 when the next general elections take place.
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