President Cyril Ramaphosa left the January 8 ANC anniversary celebrations with a firm endorsement for a second term and, though he downplayed this as “noises”, the ANC president said he was listening.
“I hear those noises of a second term and I am listening to all that; that is just about what I am able to do at this moment,” Ramaphosa said when asked about calls for a second stint as leader of the ruling party.
The first public declaration of support came from the Sekhukhune region, with the ANC’s Limpopo chairperson, Stan Mathabatha, solidifying the province’s position when he declared it supported Ramaphosa getting a second term.
In front of the party’s top leaders, national executive committee (NEC) members, provincial bigwigs, guests and general membership on Saturday, Mathabatha said Limpopo was behind Ramaphosa because of his commitment to renewing and repositioning the ANC as a movement of the people.
“We identify with this commitment to unite the party. We align with the commitment to rescue the ANC from factionalism and patronage. Limpopo says: ‘Ramaphosa for the second term’,” Mathabatha said.
Thus the ANC’s national leadership race began and, soon after, the Northern Cape’s provincial secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, seconded Mathabatha.
“I move on behalf of the Northern Cape province to second the proposal made by comrade Stan Mathabatha of Limpopo,” he said.
The ANC’s national elective conference build-up often elicits intense rivalry as leaders battle it out for top positions and, while rumours of intentions to contest Ramaphosa abound, there have been no public proclamations of a candidate to stand against him. However, it is still early days.
Ramaphosa has a long road ahead of the December elective conference.
He said the ANC would process the state capture commission’s report to “eliminate conditions and conduct that enable state capture and systemic corruption”, regardless of pushback from within its ranks.
“The ANC will go through the report closely ... some of the issues of the Zondo commission have an impact on our renewal and better functioning of the ANC, to the extent that the ANC is properly rebuilt,” he said.
I have been on the record to say I won’t allow state organs to be used for political vendettas [or] point-scoring. It is inherently wrong and should never be done.
— President Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa also touched on allegations that he was using state institutions to fight his political battles.
His ANC detractors have claimed he used state institutions to deal with now-suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, who faces corruption charges related to the Free State asbestos tender.
“I have been on the record to say I won’t allow state organs to be used for political vendettas [or] point-scoring. It is inherently wrong and should never be done,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that where state institutions were used to deal with political opponents, it had always led to problems which divided the party.
“These institutions are independent. They must do their work without prejudice. If we are a democracy that is going to work in the interests of our people, that’s what we should do — never use state resources to pursue personal vendettas,” he said.
According to Ramaphosa, he has always been clear that politicians should deal with each other politically.
He said if politicians use state institutions to settle political fights “we are on the slippery slope”.
“And that is how dictators emerge because you start protecting yourself and use the same people you appointed as pawns,” he said.
Ramaphosa is fighting for the step-aside resolution to be implemented fully in the party. However, some of his allies are also facing legal troubles.
Eastern Cape chairperson Oscar Mabuyane, one of his closest, is being investigated by the Hawks over allegations of corruption.
The president has, however, maintained that the step-aside rule must be implemented regardless of who is affected.
“There needs to be a filter which speaks to the values of the ANC, which speaks to the renewal process and what we are trying to achieve. So those leaders who [find themselves compromised and are charged] are the types of leaders who should step aside,” he said.
“It is a complex problem because we are a big organisation, but what we are trying to do is have a proper value system and we have filters — the decisions that we have taken even from the last conference that if you have been charged [with] corruption or any serious crime you must step aside.”
Ramaphosa also called for state security reforms, saying the country needed to “relook at our security establishment” given some of the revelations at the state capture commission and in the wake of the July riots.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.