The stress of being a political leader is too much for Ramaphosa, and many people think he should step down now that he is getting on in years. Today was a historic one for President Ramaphosa, as he was re-elected as the leader of the African National Congress (ANC). It was unclear who won, but Ramaphosa seemed to come out on top. His margin of victory was surprisingly substantial, guaranteeing him a second term, even though few anticipated he would win.

Over the past week, his expression has shifted from one of contentment to one of tension due to these votes. Ramaphosa was spotted being balanced by an aide as he left NASREC today, after all that; suspicion suggests he had a panic attack once the vote results were announced. He was moving excruciatingly slowly and was clearly dependent on his two traveling partners. Observe the image below below:

This photo was taken before the election results were made public. He appeared to have had a panic attack as a result of worrying about the election results. The image went viral online, and many people quickly moved past feeling sorry for him to demanding that he voluntarily step down from his position of power.

More evidence that Ramaphosa didn’t seek reelection out of a sense of public service but rather to further his private interests, in my opinion. He knew that losing would lead to jail time because of his behavior since acquiring power, especially on the phalapha issue. In any case, I hope the best for him. It is hoped that during his presidency he will find creative ways to address the high cost of living and frequent power disruptions.