Ex-DA parliamentary leader backs Ramaphosa

FORMER DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko has said she supports ANC presidential hopeful Cyril Ramaphosa to lead the governing party.

Speaking at a panel discussion yesterday on the role of business in South Africa‚ Mazibuko explained why it would be better for Ramaphosa to win the ANC elective conference than President Jacob Zuma’s preferred candidate.

Zuma has publicly endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to replace him as ANC president‚ which would likely see her elevated to the country’s top job.

“Unlike Deputy President Ramaphosa‚ who I am supporting and for whom it is not a life and death issue, it is for Jacob Zuma‚ if, like Schabir Shaik before him‚ he lands up in court and is prosecuted for the 783 charges he faces‚” Mazibuko said.

“President Zuma’s focus is on ensuring that the provinces are in order‚ not legal order‚ but order to get his candidate elected.

“If they are not in that order‚ that election will be deferred.”

She said ANC insiders had informed her that unless Zuma got his way‚ the chances of the ANC hosting its elective conference in December were slim.

Mazibuko likened Zuma to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe‚ who is said to be sleepiest when it comes to dealing with issues of Zimbabwe, but was always “up and alive” when it came to discussing issues of security‚ the police‚ military and the electoral commission of his country.

“I think of President Zuma in the same way.

“When talk of what is happening in the structures of the ANC takes place‚ I have heard it repeatedly said that is when he wakes up and takes an interest.”