What was predicted for a Cyril Ramaphosa victory in the ANC leadership race has come to pass - that there would be an immediate improvement in sentiment about the country, long dogged by corruption centred on the state president, Jacob Zuma, and whoever was in his inner circle at any given time over the past decade. Even this week's further revelations around Eskom's dodgy executives failed to dampen the story of a turnaround in the country's fortunes. Such improved sentiment is a welcome thing for any incoming leader as it buys him or her time. Just how much time depends on the gravity of the situation faced. It's a period rather similar to that faced by Neal Froneman when he formed Sibanye Gold from the unwanted and labour-intensive assets of Gold Fields about five years ago. Shares in his company rocketed on its listing, rising more than 437% to its August 2016 peak. The belief being that here stood an aggressive CEO who was about to embark on a consolidation drive that many had ...

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