WRAP | Ramaphosa warns corrupt government officials, says there is a ‘choreographed campaign’ against him

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the National Executive Committee endorsed the open letter Ramaphosa penned last week condemning corruption, and it emphasised that there is a "choreographed" campaign against the president, who is trying to "confront the scourge of corruption.

Ramaphosa was addressing the media after the NEC’s meetings at the weekend.

Ramaphosa says cadres who have been charged, must step aside from their role, pending the finalisation of their cases.

He says the NEC condemned strongly the killing of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies, and reflected on its ongoing programme on gender-based violence. He says parliament has been urged to fast-track bills that deal with curbing gender-based violence and femicide.

"The NEC emphasised what seems to be a choreographed campaign against the president of the ANC [Ramaphosa], this will not distract the movement from taking an intensified programme against corruption and state capture as mandated by the 54th National Congress.

"In this regard we will also work with other sectors of society and the broader population to confront this scourge of corruption."

He said the NEC also decided that cadres of the movement who are formally charged with corruption and other serious crimes must immediately step aside from all leadership positions in the ANC, in legislatures or other government structures pending the finalisation of their cases."

The president said another resolution was that those found guilty of any corruption must resign and face consequences as per the ANC constitution.

Ramaphosa said the NEC received a report by the Nation Working Committee (NWC) on the members of the ANC involved in allegations of corruption.

He added that the ANC has undertaken to "continue to fight racism and tribalism" in the country.

Ramaphosa says the government has connected with Zimbabwe's Zanu PF to see how the ANC can support the government.

The NEC was also concerned with the insurgence in Mozambique, and it was encouraged to support Mozambique, and to continue to act within the parameters set out by Sadec.

The ANC must provide detailed reports on these two matters, Ramaphosa says.

The President said the government's R500 billion Covid-19 funding, which he says is made up of, among other things, tax relief measures.

He said, however, that the relief money may not be enough to eradicate all economic problems in the country. He says the NEC will convene a special meeting on an economic recovery programme soon.

Ramaphosa said it was highlighted at the meeting that the ANC must fight corruption and that it is drawing a line in the sand against corruption. He says the NEC was equally determined as a movement to engage in the fight to end violence against women and children, and to end femicide.

 "The ANC held a really fantastic meeting," the president says.

The Q&A session and the address has wrapped up.

Magashule is answering questions now.

He says government has been successful in curbing Covid-19, but members of the media haven't been asking questions about it. 

Magashule says the media should use the term "alleged corrupt officials" instead of "corrupt officials" to prevent officials being crucified in the public eye. 

Next up, Paul Mashatile, the Treasurer General, says that the NEC spent a lot of its time this past weekend dealing with the issue of the country's economy and issues about local governments. He said the ANC may host another Q&A session to discuss this. 

Mantashe answers questions now.

He says the government has finished the process of VBS consultations and the media will be briefed in due course. He does not give more details. 

Deputy President David Mabuza is up next. 

One question had asked where he has been lately. Mabuza says he has been ill for about a month, but is improving and is back at work. He was also asked about the unity of the ANC, and says the ANC has "done well" from the Nasrec conference until now. "Sometimes we take a few steps forward, and sometimes a few steps backwards, but overall we are doing well."

He said the media hasn't been helpful, and once again the issue of Tony Yengeni's comments is brought up. He says, meanwhile, that the ANC is "up to the mission" set for it. 

Ramaphosa, in response to a question, says the government has had to "stabilise" the NPA and much progress has been made, saying that the NPA had been in the past "targeted" for destabilisation. 

Answering another question asking about what it means that members will "step aside" if facing charges, Ramaphosa says it depends the case itself. 

Discussing the alleged choreographed attacks on him, Ramaphosa says he has already discussed it, and refuses to delve further.

Regarding the open letter Jacob Zuma wrote, Ramaphosa says he is not insulted by it, and will not be taking any action against Zuma. The president says there will be "friendly" conversations about it. 

Regarding an envoy sent by the government to Zimbabwe, Ramaphosa says it was resolved that the envoy would engage with other people. However, in the meantime, the ANC has decided to have party-to-party discussions with Zanu PF, and the ANC will meet with Zanu PF as soon as possible. The ANC also wishes to meet other stakeholders in Zimbabwe, to get a full idea of what is going on in the country. 

Regarding unrest in Mozambique, Ramaphosa says the government is seeing how plans can be put together for a possible security problem. The government will be attending the UN General Assembly, and will take with it the health and economic challenges Africa faces, in particular the burden of debt many countries have, and there will be a call for a moratorium - or even a cancellation - of debt. 

There are more questions from the media...

The ANC's Secretary General Ace Magashule is now answering questions. 

He also talks about Tony Yengeni's comments, saying that media reports were incorrect. "That's why we decided, as the top six, to tell you actually what happened within the ANC."

Magashule talks about Ramaphosa's open letter two weeks ago, saying that the president consulted with Magashule before the letter was sent. 

Regarding members facing criminal charges, he says the NEC does not express any guilt or innocence on any member, but the ANC has its own processes. 

Mantashe adds to what Ramaphosa earlier said, saying that the president does seem to be facing a choreographed attack.

Ramaphosa clarifies why he's going to the integrity commission at this point in time, and had not gone earlier. He says the committee had asked him previously, and he suggested they wait until other processes, like courts and the public protector, come into place before they start. 

The ANC's national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, mentions media reports of Tony Yengeni asking Ramaphosa to step down was not a motion of a NWC meeting per se. He says it was merely mentioned at one meeting but had nothing to do with the ANC, NWC and NEC.

Another question: How many officials can be expected to step aside, and who are they?

Ramaphosa refuses to give names or the number of officials. He does, however, say some members had voluntarily gone forward to the integrity commission. 

Another question asks whether there will be mechanisms to revoke memberships from members caught up in criminal allegations. 

Ramaphosa says there is such a mechanism in the party's Constitution. 

Ramaphosa says findings by the integrity commission will be binding. 

The president says if allegations are made, and they have weight, then any member must go to the integrity commission. He said, even before allegations are made, members must do the right thing and go to the commission and answer for themselves. 

Answering another question about members who step aside but still receive a salary, Ramaphosa says such members will not have any influence over government despite getting a salary. He says there are labour laws which say members must be paid until the matter is finalised. 

Ramamphosa says Deputy President David Mabuza has gone through the integrity commission process, and that David Masondo had also gone through it, he does not elaborate. 

Ramaphosa, in response to a question, said he did not believe that the party's integrity commission would possibly be biased to certain members of the party. He says the committee will work independently. 

Ramaphosa says he has had discussions over Zandile Gumede, but didn't go into detail. He also mentioned Tony Yengeni's comments that Ramamphosa must step down, but also didn't go into details. 

Regarding Former President Jacob Zuma's letter, Ramaphosa says he has not responded to the letter. He says the letter is being "debated and talked about", adding that he doesn't know what the letter was for or "publicly entertain issues that were raised in the letter." 

Ramaphosa says he is aware of people in state agencies who meddle in matters of political parties, saying that this is what he wants to put "an end to". He says he will not allow law enforcement agencies to play politics, "without targeting members of any political party."

He says if anything untoward has been done, like spying and targeting people, must be cut out, adding that he was a victim of such behaviour. 

Ramaphosa, in response to a question asking who would be involved in ensuring ANC members charged with a crime will indeed step aside, he says the ANC's constitution clearly lays out mechanisms for disciplining members. "If a member does not want to comply, the ANC constitution kicks in [where the steps] are clearly set out," he says, adding that he is hoping that members will comply, especially after the NEC said it is "drawing a line in the sand", indicating a move to a "new era". 

"I have no doubt in my mind that... it will be implemented and embraced by all members." 

Ramaphosa says the office of the Secretary General plays a critical role in carrying out these processes, as well as ANC members and the National Working Committee. 

There is a Q&A with members of the media now...

Ramaphosa says it was highlighted at the meeting that the ANC must fight corruption and that it is drawing a line in the sand against corruption. He says the NEC was equally determined as a movement to engage in the fight to end violence against women and children, and to end femicide. 

"The ANC held a really fantastic meeting," the president says. 

He has ended his address. 

Ramaphosa says the government has connected with Zimbabwe's Zanu PF to see how the ANC can support the government. 

The NEC was also concerned with the insurgence in Mozambique, and it was encouraged to support Mozambique, and to continue to act within the parameters set out by Sadec.

The ANC must provide detailed reports on these two matters, Ramaphosa says. 

The President says the government's R500 billion Covid-19 funding, which he says is made up of, among other things, tax relief measures. 

He says, however, that the relief money may not be enough to eradicate all economic problems in the country. He says the NEC will convene a special meeting on a economic recovery programme soon. 

The president says the NEC received a report by the Nation Working Committee (NWC) on the members of the ANC involved in allegations of corruptions. 

The NEC endorsed the open letter Ramamphosa penned last week condemning corruption, and it emphasised that there is a "coreographed" campaign against the president, who is trying to "confront the scourge of corruption.

Ramaphosa says cadres who have been charged, must step aside from their role, pending the finalisation of their cases.

He says the NEC condemned strongly the killing of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies, and reflected on its ongoing programme on gender-based violence. He says parliament has been urged to fast-track bills that deal with curbing gender-based violence and femicide. 

"The NEC emphasised what seems to be a choreographed campaign against the president of the ANC [Ramaphosa], this will not distract the movement from taking an intensified programme against corruption and state capture as mandated by the 54th National Congress.

"In this regard we will also work with other sectors of society and the broader population to confront this scourge of corruption."

We have also decided that cadres of the movement who are formally charged with corruption and other serious crimes must immediately step aside from all leadership positions in the ANC, in legislatures or other government structures pending the finalisation of their cases."

Ramaphosa says that the ANC has undertaken to "continue to fight racism and tribalism" in the country. 

The president says another resolution was that those found guilty of any corruption must resign and face consequences as per the ANC constitution.