The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has called for restraint from three of its former leaders and South African heads of state after their public criticism of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
It’s described the public utterances from former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and Kgalema Motlanthe as a “strange occurrence”.
In a statement on Sunday, the ANC in KZN called on the former presidents to “exercise restraint” and express their criticism within the internal structures of the party.
“The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has noted a very strange occurrence wherein the above leaders are attacking the sitting ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC publicly. Clearly, such an exercise is eroding the standing of the organisation in society.
“Whist we respect their rights, as enshrined in the constitution, of the freedom of speech, we respectfully request our leaders to exercise restraint.
“We call upon the leaders of our movement to use the rightful channel to raise whatever frustration they have with the ANC instead of attacking the ANC, its government and its leadership in public,” the party said.
Former president Thabo Mbeki this past week said the ANC was led by criminals and the party ought to consider whether Ramaphosa should step aside of the independent panel appointed by Parliament found he had a prima facie case to answer about Phala Phala.
Former president, and deputy president of the ANC Kgalema Motlanthe, also spoke about his concerns this past weekend.
Former president Jacob Zuma held a press conference on Saturday in Johannesburg, where he accused Ramaphosa of being corrupt and committing treason by conducting private businesses while in office.
Uma spoke about the Phala Phala saga and launched a scathing attack on Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and the state capture commission.
“Our country’s problems are too big for President Cyril Ramaphosa to be hustling on the side through Phala Phala Farm sales.
“Cyril Ramaphosa conducting private business while holding a high office of being president of the country is in itself unconstitutional and nothing but corruption. Your president is corrupt,” Zuma said.
Source: News24, The Citizen, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @AfricanSoil