Ramaphosa backers want him to quit cabinet
BACKERS of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa want him to quit the post if President Jacob Zuma fails to endorse him as his successor.
The pro-Ramaphosa lobby, including regional and provincial ANC leaders, took the decision at an inaugural meeting of the group on Monday.
However, some of Ramaphosa’s backers believe that the president’s detractors should remain in the cabinet to avoid a situation in which Zuma allies are allowed free rein.
The lobby group also wants the ANC constitution to be amended to create positions for a first and second deputy president, one to be deployed in the government and the other to serve full time at Luthuli House.
Brown Mogotsi, the organiser of the lobby group, said Zuma should follow the example of former ANC presidents Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela and endorse his deputy to succeed him.
“If he does not do that, we are calling for Ramaphosa to resign as deputy president of the country,” Mogotsi said.
“If you’re serving in the cabinet of a president who cannot pronounce his support for you, why should you be there?
“Why should you be deputising him? He has no confidence in you. [Ramaphosa] must do organisational work . . . until the elective conference where he is elected president of the ANC.”
In January, Zuma signalled that he did not support Ramaphosa, saying there was no ANC policy or tradition that the deputy president should automatically be elevated. Instead, Zuma praised his former wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and declared that the party was ready for a woman leader.
Ramaphosa has taken a stance critical of Zuma on some issues, such as the cabinet reshuffle in which Pravin Gordhan was fired as finance minister.
The pro-Ramaphosa group is due to meet again before the ANC’s policy conference starting on June 30, with five representatives from each of the party’s 54 regions in attendance.
Mogotsi, who describes himself as an ordinary ANC member from Mahikeng in HAPPY TOGETHER: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is Cyril Ramaphosa’s main leadership rival North West, said the group was not targeting only popular ANC and community leaders.
He said their strategy was to talk to ordinary ANC members who would be delegates at the party’s conference.
“So far we have visited all the regions across the country, including each municipal area, zones or subregions. Branches of the ANC are saying enough is enough,” Mogotsi.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the group claims to be making inroads in the president’s stronghold province.
Former premier Senzo Mchunu, who is a key figure in Ramaphosa’s campaign in the province, said although they were not unaware of the challenges ahead, they were optimistic about their chances.
“All is proceeding well. We will see. It won’t be easy,” he said after taking Ramaphosa to a prayer gathering of the Shembe church in Empangeni, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday.
Mchunu leads the pack of leaders — all of them isolated by Zuma supporters in KwaZulu-Natal — who are working tirelessly to deliver the province to Ramaphosa.
The list includes Deputy Minister of Agriculture Bheki Cele, former ANC provincial treasurer Mike Mabuyakhulu, former eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo and SACP provincial secretary Themba Mthembu.
Another Ramaphosa campaigner, who asked not to be named, said the biggest challenge in the province would be making sure that internal processes were not manipulated against Ramaphosa.
“We are aware that many branches might be disqualified or their file might be misplaced to avoid them going to [meetings], especially those who support Cyril.
If you’re serving in the cabinet of a president who cannot support you, why should you be deputising him? They were not unaware of the challenges ahead, but they were optimistic about their chances
“We must be honest to the ANC and do what is right rather than what they want.”
He said Ramaphosa “is supported in KwaZulu-Natal by a huge number of branches from the suburbs, townships and in very deep rural areas”.
He said support from Cosatu and the SACP would play a major role in turning the province in Ramaphosa’s favour.
Meanwhile, Dlamini-Zuma steered clear of politics during an ANC event in Hammanskraal on Friday.
She also refused to speak about her ambitions and whether she was considering a return to public service, when journalists cornered her.
“This is not the time to talk about that. I would only consider it if I am asked to,” she said.
Dlamini-Zuma was attending an event organised by her staunch backers, the ANC Women’s League.
League secretary-general Meokgo Matuba described Dlamini-Zuma as “someone we know we can trust with the future of South Africa”.
Although the ANC succession debate has not officially opened, the women’s league and the ANC Youth League have publicly campaigned for Dlamini-Zuma.