‘MY FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS’: Cyril Ramaphosa emulates Mandela in his COVID-19 presidential speeches

Abstract

This paper undertakes a rhetorical analysis of selected speeches delivered by the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to the citizens of his country about developments around the coronavirus pandemic in his country in 2020. Drawing on the notion of Mandelaism, the study argues that in his addresses, Ramaphosa employed very similar techniques used by Former President Nelson Mandela to appeal to patriotic sentiments, often invoking notions of magical powers in an endeavour to reconcile South Africans, and advance nation-building in light of a pandemic that exposed the nations deeply entrenched economic and social divisions. The speeches considered in this study were those delivered by Ramaphosa in the early stages of the pandemic’s impact on the country, when very few cases had been reported. However, the nation was uncertain, considering the perceived scale of impact this health crisis was set to have. To date, there do not appear to have been many studies that have considered Ramaphosa’s rhetoric. Thus, this study will add to the body of knowledge of, firstly, understanding how he employs rhetoric and, secondly, the broader body of knowledge around how Mandelaism, as a rhetorical approach, has been appropriated by other rhetors who emulate his rhetorical approach in their endeavour to promote harmony, and