Ramaphosa warns of hidden agenda
RADICAL economic transformation should not benefit only a few families, allowing them to enrich themselves and their associates.
Speaking at Cosatu’s central committee meeting, held in Pretoria yesterday‚ ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa said there was a hidden agenda behind the call by certain individuals.
“This concept can’t simply be a reckless rhetoric and put out an empty promise that is intended to hide and sweep under the carpet the plunder of our resources,” he said.
“Sometimes when you listen to it‚ you get a sense that there is a hidden agenda that people have when they chant this whole concept of radical economic transformation.
“We must keep the interests of our people at heart and ask ourselves, are all of these [things] being done primarily to advance the interest of our people?”
Discussions around radical economic transformation come at a time when the ANC will be hosting its policy conference in July‚ amid growing calls for its implementation.
Ramaphosa also for the first time directly blamed President Jacob Zuma for the recent decisions by two ratings agencies to downgrade South Africa to junk status.
Without mentioning Zuma’s name, he told the Cosatu central committee meeting that the efforts of national Treasury‚ business and civil society to grow the economy had been dealt a big blow and said: “We know what sparked that off.”
Fitch Ratings‚ the second agency to downgrade South Africa to junk status‚ said in April it took the decision following the firing of finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy‚ Mcebisi Jonas, in Zuma’s late-night cabinet reshuffle in March. – TMG Digital/TimesLIVE