by Patrick McLaughlin – parlyreportSA.com
ParlyReportSA provides business and political analysis from Parliament, Cape Town.
26 October 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s global game and expanding control over foreign and domestic affairs — from Taiwan diplomacy to China deals — is sparking national debate. His diary has become unusually global. From Moscow to Beijing, New York to Tehran, even to Riyadh, he’s building visibility — but to what end?Ramaphosa’s Global Game: What Is He Really Up To?
On the domestic front, Parliament has been locked in endless committee sessions over legislation that will redefine the way South Africa’s state machinery is managed. Yet Ramaphosa seems increasingly detached, flying the international circuit while leaving local ministers to fight over the machinery of state.
The optics are interesting. While the President talks “peace” abroad, his administration at home is busy consolidating control over state enterprises, intelligence, and communications. The contradiction is becoming glaring.thowdoes it fit in to Ramaphosa’s global game
Power or Paralysis?
Behind the scenes, the National State Enterprises Bill, the Public Procurement Bill, and the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill are moving through Parliament — all designed, in different ways, to centralise power in the Presidency.
To the business community, this looks like a system tightening its grip, not modernising. The intention is wrapped in talk of “efficiency” and “national interest,” but the effect is unmistakable: more executive control, less transparency, and diminishing parliamentary oversight.
Many observers wonder if Ramaphosa’s global diplomacy is designed to offset his government’s increasingly authoritarian domestic posture — a way to maintain credibility abroad while consolidating control at home.https://parlyreportsa.com/international-relations/ramaphosa-mtn-and-the-middle-east/
The BRICS Balancing Act
BRICS has become Ramaphosa’s platform of preference. His speeches to global partners are filled with calls for “multipolar cooperation,”African sovereignty,” and a “reformed global order.” These themes play well internationally — and with ANC ideological allies.
But for investors, BRICS symbolism is wearing thin. The world wants policy consistency, not grand slogans. Business leaders quietly note that while Ramaphosa shakes hands with global powers, confidence in South Africa’s governance remains at record lows. Nobody knows locally anything about Cyril Ramaphosa’s global game.
It’s an open question whether BRICS offers a way out — or a deeper drift away from Western markets that have long underpinned the South African economy.
The Domestic Disconnect
At home, the real work of government happens in Parliament’s committees. There, week after week, MPs try to interpret and repair complex bills — often with little clarity from ministers.
The Presidential Office’s growing dominance is now so embedded that ministers defer to it for guidance before replying to parliamentary questions. This has led to paralysis in departments, uncertainty among investors, and a sense that no one really knows where the “centre of gravity” in government lies.
Meanwhile, Eskom, Transnet, and Denel continue to drain the fiscus, while policy direction remains foggy.
The Politics Behind the Posture
With the 2026 election cycle beginning to form, Ramaphosa’s global activism may be more than foreign policy — it’s political insurance.
By positioning himself as a statesman on the world stage, he dilutes domestic criticism. The ANC can project stability, even if the machinery of state continues to erode.
Inside the party, though, factions are circling. The “reformist” narrative is fragile, and Ramaphosa’s own Cabinet contains those who would gladly take over the levers of centralised power should he step aside.
Where Does Business Fit In?
For business leaders, the question is not whether the President means well — but whether South Africa still has the institutional resilience to act on good intentions.
Many corporates have quietly shifted their capital strategies, focusing on regional diversification while keeping a token domestic presence. Others are hedging politically, maintaining “compliance partnerships” with state-linked projects.
It’s a game of patience — and for many, survival.
A President’s Paradox
Ramaphosa’s greatest skill may be his ability to appear moderate while presiding over a system that’s becoming less so.
He speaks of consensus, yet power continues to centralise. He promises reform, yet institutions remain hollowed out. He champions transparency, yet his ministers avoid questions and parliamentary oversight is increasingly ceremonial.
In diplomacy, that kind of ambiguity can be an asset. In domestic governance, it’s a liability.
The World Is Watching — So Is Parliament
South Africa’s trading partners, investors, and neighbours are watching carefully.
What they see is a country still rich in opportunity — but increasingly confused about its own direction.
In the months ahead, the President’s “global game” may face a simple test: can he sustain international credibility while domestic accountability slips away?
If he can’t, the next chapter of South Africa’s story will be written not in world capitals, but in the quiet frustration of its own Parliament.
Patrick McLaughlin
editor
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