Ramaphosa must lead

Ibelieve our future president, Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist, national executive committee (NEC) member and a seasoned politician, must now show the highest level of discipline and provide leadership with regard to the removal of certain ministers and deputy ministers.

No public representative, minister or deployed comrade owns any position in government. I note with concern the manifestation of factions in the ANC. This is a serious concern for the existence of our organisation, because who will build and foster unity if the president and deputy president as the political heads of our beloved movement don’t get along?

But reshuffling of the Cabinet, including the ministry of finance, without following the proper organisational channels for their removal is a terrible action that will be difficult for the ANC branches to explain to the people.

It is my hope that the ANC will continue to take firm action against ill-discipline and root out abuse of power in our ranks. I’m concerned because it seems the ANC’s political consciousness has departed and it has become difficult for those on the NEC to work together.

At this critical time, I certainly expected more from Ramaphosa, a respectful, principled, highly intelligent and disciplined person, to rescue the organisation and the country, as he did when negotiating the Constitution of South Africa. I ask the deputy president and the ANC MPs not to support the opposition in any attempt to divide the ANC. Motions of no confidence in our president seek to destroy our organisation and its hard-earned gains. Let Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane expel Helen Zille before he tells Ramaphosa how to run the ANC.

If we want to remove the president, let us do it within the confines of the organisation, and please do not run to the media to advance and deepen divisions in the organisation. We urgently need to convene a special national conference for the ANC to purify itself.