THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has come to the defence of President Cyril Ramaphosa following extraordinary attacks by three former presidents, who raised serious concerns about his corruption allegations and poor record of service delivery since his election.
Former president Jacob Zuma called Ramaphosa corrupt over the Phala Phala allegations, Kgalema Motlanthe said the country was on a precipice and Thabo Mbeki said the ANC should consider whether Ramaphosa should step aside if the independent panel appointed by Parliament found he had a prima facie case to answer to about his game farm scandal.
In a media statement, the ANC in KZN called on the former presidents to express their criticism within the internal structures of the party, such as the National Executive Committee (NEC) or the National Working Committee (NWC).
“The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has noted a very strange occurrence wherein the above leaders are attacking the sitting ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC publicly. Clearly, such an exercise is eroding the standing of the organisation in society,” the party said in a statement.
“Whilst we respect their rights, as enshrined in the Constitution, of freedom of speech, we respectfully request our leaders to exercise restraint.”
The party added: “No court of law has ever found President Jacob Zuma corrupt for his involvement in the arms deal. Equally, no court of law has ever found President Cyril Ramaphosa corrupt in Phala Phala.”
“Lastly, we are nursing a hope that our leaders will take a leaf out of President Nelson Mandela’s legacy. After leaving office, he spent his time as an elder and doing what elders do, instead of attacking a sitting president. He never publicly insulted or undermined leaders of the ANC – irrespective of how he felt about their conduct. He used internal processes to guide where he felt guidance was urgently needed.”
The Limpopo ANC has also criticized Zuma, Mbek and Motlanthe for their scathing attacks on Ramaphosa at the weekend.
“Whilst we respect the fact that former presidents have the constitutional right to express their views, we are however of the firm view that such expression should better be raised within structures of the organisation, the ANC,” the ANC Limpopo provincial executive committee said in a statement.
“President Ramaphosa should be given time and space to lead both the ANC and the State. The ANC in Limpopo appreciates that there are challenges facing both the ANC and government, however such problems cannot be attributed to President Ramaphosa.”
“The ANC Limpopo is calling upon former presidents to desist from publicly attacking President Ramaphosa, and instead to assist through correct channels to strengthen the party and the government of the day.”
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