---
title: "In photos: Ramphele enters politics"
description: "Mamphela Ramphele, civil society leader, former black consciousness leader, World Bank managing director, and chair of Gold Fields, launched her new political platform Agang on Monday. We bring you the day in photos. By GREG NICOLSON."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "South Africa"
author: "Greg Nicolson"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/gregnicolson/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-02-19-in-photos-ramphele-enters-politics/"
published: "2013-02-19T01:31:57"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 238
---

# In photos: Ramphele enters politics

> Mamphela Ramphele, civil society leader, former black consciousness leader, World Bank managing director, and chair of Gold Fields, launched her new political platform Agang on Monday. We bring you the day in photos. By GREG NICOLSON.

By Greg Nicolson · Published 19 February 2013, 03:31 SAST

## Content

![greg 8702](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_8702 465 285.jpg)

Photo: Mamphela Ramphele announced she was starting a “party political platform” with a handful of other South Africans on Monday at the old Women’s Gaol at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg. The announcement followed weeks of speculation and attracted a large contingent of media.

![greg 8431](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_8431 465 375.jpg)

Photo: Ramphele looked relaxed as she was introduced with ululations from her team.

![greg 8590](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_8590 465 297.jpg)

Photo: Moeletsi Mbeki, rumoured to be a key force behind Ramphele’s party launch, sits centre, to the right of political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi. The crowd was full of representatives from civil society and media, but no other political notables were represented.

![greg 8709](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_8709 465 303.jpg)

Photo: Burly bodyguards, some in suits, others undercover, were present at Ramphele’s launch, leading media to ask whether she perceived a threat.

![greg 8569](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_8569 465 310.jpg)

Photo: Ramphele read a stirring speech to launch Agang, but journalists complained that the launch lacked substance on policy issues and failed to offer detail on the planned structures. Agang will, however, contest the 2014 elections.

![greg 8798](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_8798 465 697.jpg)

Photo: Despite the security presence, Ramphele mixed with the crowd and sipped tea after speaking to media.

![greg 9020](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_9020 465 332.jpg)

Photo: The desk where she gave the first press conference of Agang’s existence was left with a glass smeared with Ramphele’s lipstick and a notepad with the words “Gold Fields”, regarding a note from a question from the crowd.

![greg 9031](//www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/uploaded_images/20130218-_MG_9031 MAIN.jpg)

Photo: Ramphele finished the Constitutional Hill briefing with one-on-one interviews with media, which were bound to be the first of many. **DM**

*All photos by Greg Nicolson/Daily Maverick.*