Listen to the people, says Cyril
PROTESTS: ‘CITIZENS RAISING THEIR CONCERNS’
Deputy president’s remarks in stark contrast to those of Jacob Zuma.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says leaders should listen to protesters who have taken to the streets demanding that President Jacob Zuma resign or be removed after a cabinet reshuffle triggered damaging credit downgrades.
Zuma is to step down as head of the ruling ANC in December but his second term as president only expires after a general election in 2019.
Ramaphosa and Zuma’s exwife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, are the leading candidates vying to replace him.
Zuma is widely believed to support his ex-wife’s candidacy, while Ramaphosa, a wealthy businessman and former trade unionist, has the backing of the ANC’s labour allies.
“People of our country are taking to the streets. They’re raising their concerns, and I think what we should be doing as leaders is to listen to some of those concerns,” Ramaphosa told eNCA news on Sunday, after attending an Easter service in northern Limpopo.
Ramaphosa’s remarks are a marked contrast to those of Zuma. The president has accused marchers of having racist motives. The protests have had mixed racial profiles and drew tens of thousands to Pretoria last Wednesday and nationwide on April 7.
Zuma, who turned 75 last week, has survived previous protests. But the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other parties believe they can drum up enough support to force Zuma from office following his dismissal of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a Cabinet reshuffle.
South Africa’s top court is considering whether a parliamentary motion of no confidence against Zuma should be taken by secret ballot.
Opposition parties have said the motion would be more likely to succeed if held by secret ballot. – Reuters