Gareth Cliff Says He'd Rather Sit With Jacob Zuma Than Cyril Ramaphosa
- Gareth Cliff made a striking comparison between former president Jacob Zuma and current president Cyril Ramaphosa in a podcast-style interview
- The media personality argued that Ramaphosa is far more 'slippery' than Zuma, who he described as straightforward in his self-interest
- Cliff also weighed in on Ramaphosa's performance during his much-discussed Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump
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Source: Instagram
Gareth Cliff has sparked conversation online after a clip from a studio interview resurfaced on X, in which the media personality made a blunt declaration about South Africa's two most talked-about former and current presidents.
In the footage, shared by X user @ThisIsColbert, Cliff stated that he would sooner spend time in a room with Jacob Zuma than Cyril Ramaphosa, and his reasoning turned heads.
Why Cliff prefers Zuma's company
Cliff's argument was not an endorsement of Zuma but rather a commentary on predictability. With Ramaphosa, he argued, the picture is far murkier. Cliff said:
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"Jacob Zuma, you know what you are dealing with. You're dealing with a very basic guy who's in it for himself. He wants power. He wants money."
He described the current president as "slippery," claiming that Ramaphosa had fooled the business community and major banks into believing he represented meaningful change. Cliff pointed out that Ramaphosa served as deputy president throughout the state capture era, meaning he was close enough to see exactly how government resources were being funnelled to certain interest groups.
"He's been part of this from the beginning. The problem is he couched it all in an internationally acceptable tone and personality."
Watch the X video below:
The Oval Office dig
Cliff also revisited Ramaphosa's meeting with US President Donald Trump, which drew significant media coverage in South Africa. While much of the local press criticised Trump's conduct during the encounter, Cliff was unmoved. He described Ramaphosa as "a bumbling mumbling fumbling wreck" in that setting and pushed back against those who praised his performance. Cliff added:
"Everyone who says he was [strong], he's lying to themselves and we can see through you.”
He did acknowledge Ramaphosa's earlier contributions, crediting his work with Cyril alongside Rolf Meyer on South Africa's post-apartheid constitution. However, Cliff characterised him as fundamentally a conciliator rather than a decisive leader. He said:
"He's got a kind of feminine energy of let's get everyone in the room and let's all talk, and I'll listen to you, and I'll smile, and I'll shake your hand, but he can't get anything done.”
The clip quickly made the rounds on X, drawing a mix of amusement and pushback.
@DimitriVozd wrote:
"My problem with such rhetoric is that it's never valid criticism. There's plenty of valid criticisms of every president, including the golden boy Mbeki. Even with Cyril, might not like him, might even despise him, but he handled that Trump situation really well."
@Emetl8 responded:
"I'd rather sit with Gareth Cliff than with Helen Zille because Gareth says in public what white people say in private."
@Oros_Mnisi simply quoted Cliff's description of Zuma with:
"'Very basic guy'. 😭😂"
Gareth Cliff mocked Ronald Lamola
Gareth Cliff took a swipe at International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola over his remarks on US visa restrictions against South Africa.
Lamola suggested that lobbying by groups claiming to represent Afrikaner interests played a role in Washington's targeted visa measures.
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Source: Briefly News
