ANC deputy president Cyril Rampahosa spearheaded the party’s mass mobilisation for Saturday’s headline rally in Durban to mark its 101st anniversary. Above: Ramaphosa greets ANC supporters during an ANC rally at Umzumbe village near Port Shepstone on Wednesday (January 9 2012). Pictures: Khaya Ngwenya/City Press

At one of his first public appearances after being elected deputy president of the ANC, Ramaphosa said the National Development Plan (NDP) would be President Jacob Zuma’s “marvellous’’ legacy.

Ramaphosa said the NDP was ready to be implemented, but needed not just government but a social compact with civil society, labour and the ordinary citizenry for it to succeed.

The party’s deputy president also urged business leaders to participate in the projects which would help change the lives of ordinary South Africans.

He cited the rollout of the ARV treatment for HIV/AIDS patients and the increase of life expectancy to 60 as one of the achievements of the Zuma-led government.

Ramaphosa praised Nelson Mandela’s government and that of Thabo Mbeki, saying that Mandela had liberated the country and Mbeki had consolidated democracy. He said that it’s Zuma’s role to take South Africa to a “higher level”.

On Thursday (January 10 2012), Ramaphosa – with Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba – did a walkabout at Pietermaritzburg’s central taxi rank, where he met with traders and handed out pamphlets advertising the Saturday rally, which will be addressed by Zuma.

Ramaphosa said small businesses could also help bolster the NDP by perfecting their skills and diversifying.

He said entrepreneurs should not blow their first government cheque on a Mercedes Benz but rather invest the profits in a new business venture.