South Africa: Ramaphosa emerges victorious after tense ruling party meeting

31 Août 2020

Cape Town, South Africa, August 31 (Infosplusgabon) – President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday appeared to secure control of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) following months of deep divisions.

After a four-day emergency National Executive Committee meeting held to address graft allegations against senior party officials, Ramaphosa secured the support of party leaders as he pledged to eliminate corruption.

The party’s leaders emphasised that there is a "choreographed" campaign against the President who demanded that party officials who have been criminally charged, must step aside from their role, pending the finalisation of their cases.

Ramaphosa told a virtual media briefing that the ANC has undertaken to "continue to fight racism and tribalism" in the country. He said government's US$35 billion COVID-19 funding may not be enough to eradicate all economic problems in the country.

Ramaphosa was elected party leader after his predecessor Jacob Zuma was recalled three years ago. Zuma who is facing multiple graft charges, on Friday issued a public letter rebuking Ramaphosa for attempting “to save your own skin” and “desecrating the graves of young men and women who lived and died cruel deaths in the hands of apartheid security forces and mercenaries”.

On Monday, Ramaphosa said he would not “descend" to the level of responding to Zuma’s letter.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/AFD/GABON2020

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