Zuma recall ‘delicate matter’

Whatever decision ANC takes, president will not be humiliated, says Ramaphosa

THE issue of recalling President Jacob Zuma is a delicate matter, newly elected ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa said in a television broadcast at the weekend. He told broadcaster eNCA that whatever decision the party’s newly elected national executive committee (NEC) took, Zuma would not be humiliated.

Ramaphosa said rumours of Zuma’s impending recall were the talk of the town. “This issue is being raised by everyone. “People are talking about it and I am saying we should never, ever humiliate President Zuma,” he said.

“That is one thing that we are very clear on. He should not be humiliated, he is a deployee of the ANC.”

Shying away from weekend reports suggesting that Zuma was willing to resign under his own terms, including that ANC MP Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma take over as the country’s interim president, Ramaphosa said: “The leadership of the ANC will deal with all matters in the interest of the people of South Africa – be it whoever else’s deployment, be it President Zuma’s deployment or be it my deployment.

“It should always be how do we advance the interests of South Africa and not how we advance the interests of a particular individual.

“Leave that matter there, it is a matter that is delicate that has to be addressed taking into account the interests of the people of South Africa.”

Regarding allegations of state capture, Ramaphosa said the NPA should immediately prosecute those implicated instead of waiting for the findings of the commission of inquiry into state capture, which would be headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Ramaphosa said the commission would take a long time to conclude its work, hence the NPA should begin its work now.

A scandal-prone Zuma, who has limped from one corruption scandal to another during his tenure, was booed multiple times at the party’s 106th birthday celebrations in East London at the weekend.

“This issue of having a different president of the ANC and a different president of the country is a very delicate matter and could be seen by others as having two centres of power, but we don’t see it in that regard,” Ramaphosa said.

“There is only one centre of power, which is the ANC. President Zuma is a deployee of the ANC. We should never have a situation where we subject any of the deployees of the ANC to humiliation because by doing we so are saying the ANC should itself be humiliated.”

Yesterday, the Presidency denied reports that Zuma had demanded during a meeting last week with Ramaphosa that Dlamini-Zuma be appointed as the country’s deputy president.

“No such discussion has taken place and no such demand has been made anywhere by President Zuma‚” it said.

The Presidency said it had noted several distortions in media reports in relation to the meeting held between Zuma and Ramaphosa on January 7 at Dr John Langalibalele Dube residence in Durban.

“The principals held their first formal meeting following the assumption of office by the deputy president as president of the ANC.

“They discussed several issues, updating each other on matters in both government and the governing party.

“The two leaders met alone‚ and reports of other leaders being present are false.

“Among issues discussed‚ President Zuma briefed Deputy President Ramaphosa on his plans to institute a commission of inquiry into state capture.”

It said Zuma and Ramaphosa had resolved to hold regular meetings. – Additional reporting by TimesLIVE

CYRIL Ramaphosa is right about one thing. South Africans are im- patient.

They want visible, authentic change. And they want it now. In a television interview yesterday, the ANC president said the party had to be given space and time to consider and do what it believes is best to deal with the current political and economic crisis in the country.

While eager to demonstrate a departure from the culture of corruption, state capture and unethical leadership, Ramaphosa believes that the public expectation that this should happen overnight is unrealistic. Fair enough. Indeed it must be accepted that in trying to clean up President Jacob Zuma’s mess, Ramaphosa cannot make reckless decisions in haste.

However, in reality he does not have the luxury of time. Neither does our nation.

There is now no room for complacency, intentional or otherwise. Our economy is in the doldrums.

And the longer it takes to dismantle the criminal network that has captured our state, the more difficult it will be to achieve accountability and justice. Ramaphosa knows this. Despite his public utterances espoused in the call for organisational unity, he knows that what will ultimately define his leadership is how he leads the party to take difficult decisions that serve our country beyond party political interests.

The intense behind-thescenes negotiations unfolding in the ANC’s highest echelons of power are an indication of this.

The party is expected to hold its national executive committee this week and later its lekgotla.

The outcome of its talks will indicate the balance of forces within its ranks.

Most important, it will demonstrate whether indeed Ramaphosa brings with him legitimate change.