johannesburg nearly man south african politics deputy president cyril ramaphosa take big step towards top job monday elect whisker head rule african national congress anc ramaphosa ability apparent decades whenever nelson mandela need breakthrough talk end apartheid turn then-trade union leader reputation tenacious negotiator use skills hone pay dispute mine boss ramaphosa steer talk successful conclusion allow mandela sweep power 1994 head victorious anc south africa first democratic vote mandela want ramaphosa heir pressure pick thabo mbeki group anc leaders fight apartheid exile take two decades ramaphosa get another chance run country monday party vote hand victory less 200 nearly 5,000 ballot put goal firmly within 65-year-old grasp rand surge much percent suggest approval business community ramaphosa ambition presidency clear whole adult life quite clearly wound materialization mbeki period say anthony butler politics professor write biography ramaphosa choice ramaphosa main rival anc top job former cabinet minister nkosazana dlamini-zuma likely chart reformist course south africa lose lustre president jacob zuma lawyer easygoing manner ramaphosa vow fight corruption revitalize economy slow near-standstill zuma scandal-plagued leadership message go well foreign investors anc members think zuma handle economy could cost party dearly 2019 parliamentary elections dlamini-zuma promise radical brand wealth redistribution popular poor anc voters angry racial inequality ramaphosa back call radical economic transformation anc plan tackle inequality tend couch policy pronouncements cautious term unlike zuma dlamini-zuma ramaphosa drive exile oppose apartheid party hardline members hold fight injustices white minority rule within south africa prominently defend right black miners leader national union mineworkers num member relatively small venda ethnic group ramaphosa able overcome divisions sometimes constrain members large zulu xhosa group massive miners strike lead ramaphosa num 1987 teach business cyril force reckon say michael spic former executive anglo american shrewd understand men power know get want situation spic say importance ramaphosa contribution talk end apartheid commentators refer two distinct stag bc ac cyril cyril ramaphosa also play important role draft south africa post-apartheid constitution miss become mandela deputy ramaphosa withdraw active political life switch focus business investment vehicle shanduka venda change grow rapidly acquire stake mine firm mobile operator mtn mtnj.j mcdonald south african franchise phuti mahanyele former chief executive shanduka recall ramaphosa passionate leader require staff contribute charitable project aim improve access education underprivileged time ramaphosa sell shanduka 2014 firm worth billion rand 584 million today money make ramaphosa one south africa 20 rich people supporters ramaphosa business success make well-suited task turn around economy grapple 28 percent unemployment credit rat downgrade johannesburg township soweto last month ramaphosa call new deal business government spur economic growth pravin gordhan respect former finance minister tell reuters ramaphosa elect anc leader whole narrative south africa economy would change good within three months ramaphosa detractors non-executive director lonmin lmi.l lonj.j negotiations halt violent wildcat strike marikana platinum mine 2012 end police shoot 34 strikers dead inquiry subsequently absolve ramaphosa guilt families victims still blame urge authorities intervene conscience participate try stop deaths happen ramaphosa say deaths others unconvinced ramaphosa deputy president since 2014 tough corruption campaign rhetoric suggest bantu holomisa opposition politician former anc member work closely 1990s say nature cautious cyril part machinery act corruption far holomisa say clear whether get elect 13.6947 rand 'nearly man ramaphosa edge close south africa 's top job