‘Keep silent on your private life’

ANC advises Cyril on ‘extramarital affairs’

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has been advised by senior ANC members and party structures to no longer speak publicly about his private life and alleged extramarital affairs.

Ramaphosa revealed this during a question and answer session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) yesterday. He said the decision to close the matter came after he had consulted senior ANC leaders as well as provincial and regional structures.

Ramaphosa consulted following his undertaking in the National Assembly last week that he would deal with the matter “in a day or two”.

“Having said that, I was then counselled by a number of leaders in our movement, including structures at provincial level and at regional level.

“They said to me‚ ‘deputy president‚ you addressed this matter in the West Rand and you said you take responsibility for your actions’.

“And they said you’ve even discussed it with your family and your wife.

“They said as far as they are concerned that matter should rest there and we do not believe you should take it any further‚” said Ramaphosa.

He was responding to a question from Economic Freedom Fighters MP Tebogo Mokwele on whether his alleged extra-marital affairs would not compromise his leadership of the SA National Aids Council (Sanac).

Ramaphosa also revealed that there were some MPs in the National Assembly who last week dissuaded him from discussing the matter in parliament.

“So [this is] basically the type of response I have received‚ having said that I take responsibility and had discussed this with my family‚ with my wife.

“Having done that I’ve also had to listen to my own organisation‚ the structures within my own organisation‚ and what I have gained clearly is that this matter is a private matter,” said Ramaphosa.

He said in relation to the work he is doing for Sanac‚ he did not see any controversy.

NCOP chairwoman Thandi Modise tried to shield Ramaphosa from the question, saying the relevant supplementary question on Sanac was about corruption and not his personal life.

But Ramaphosa said he was more than happy to answer Mokwele.