A close friend of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, James Motlatsi, said that if the president resigns, South Africa will turn into Colombia or into Zimbabwe.
Colombia is a South American country that experienced a civil war for decades and has a reputation as an unsafe place to visit.
Motlatsi on Friday told top South African presenter, Clement Manyatela, that Ramaphosa should not be told to resign by criminals, in reference to the President’s opponents within the ruling ANC. Tweeted Manyatela:
Cyril Ramaphosa’s close friend James Motlatsi tells me on #TheCMShow on @Radio702 that Ramaphosa told him he is gonna resign & fight from outside. He says he told Ramaphosa “no don’t resign, this is an attack on you. You can’t be told by criminals to leave”.
James Motlatsi tells me on #TheCMShow that his close friend could have handled #PhalaPhala better. “He was careless about how he handled that, but it was his money, not the state’s money”
Motlatsi on #TheCMShow tells me “those who want Ramaphosa to go want South Africa to turn into Colombia, to turn into Zimbabwe. These are criminals” he says.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe on Friday called on Motlatsi to withdraw his remarks that Ramaphosa can’t be told by criminals to leave. Said, Mabe:
While the ANC holds no right or authority to dictate personal relations, it is insensitive and rather disappointing that someone of his stature can make such reckless insinuations at a time when the movement and the country are faced with a dilemma emanating from the parliamentary Section 89 report on the Phala Phala saga.
… We call on Mr. Motlatsi, who is also a veteran activist, to consider withdrawing his unfortunate divisive remarks which are harmful and hurting to our movement. The same goes for others who may be tempted to engage in such a public spat.
Ramaphosa is under pressure following the release of the report by the independent panel, which found preliminary evidence that he violated his oath of office in relation to the theft of US$580 000 (R10 million) from his game farm, Phala Phala, in Limpopo.
The ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) was expected to meet to discuss Ramaphosa’s fate following the release of an independent panel’s report. | News24