Cape Town - ANC head of elections and NEC member Fikile Mbalula says under-fire President Cyril Ramaphosa is not going anywhere, and that the Phala Phala scandal was not the second edition of the Nkandla saga, and would be responded to.
Addressing a crowd in Mpumalanga at the weekend, Mbalula urged ANC members not to be distracted, saying: “They will never sink him (Ramaphosa). We are with him here in Mpumalanga and across the country.”
His remarks follow mounting pressure on Ramaphosa, with opposition parties calling for him to step aside over the Farmgate scandal.
They are also expected to table a motion of no confidence in the president after marching to the Office of the Public Protector, demanding the release of the report into the saga.
Ramaphosa has been accused of trying to conceal a break-in at his farm in Limpopo two years ago, where millions of dollars were stolen.
The five suspects, mostly Namibian nationals were allegedly traced using a bogus drug case and located in Milnerton, before they were kidnapped, tortured and apparently bribed for their silence, according to former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser’s affidavit.
Fraser filed a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa, also alleging money laundering.
He claimed the cash found on Ramaphosa’s farm was apparently never declared to the country’s financial regulators.
Ramaphosa claimed the amount was much less, and that it was from the sale of animals.
He has yet to explain why so much money was not banked, and whether it had been declared with Sars and the South African Reserve Bank.
While the ANC has largely remained tight-lipped about its position on the matter, Mbalula endorsed Ramaphosa for a second term to lead the ANC.
Asked to elaborate on his comment, Mbalula told the Cape Times: “We will resolve that question in December.”
Defending his comments, Mbalula said: “It’s simple. The matter is under investigation. So there’s no alternative route. The matter has also been reported to the Public Protector.
The president has subjected himself to this legal process. And I was right to say ‘the president will answer on worries (expressed)...’ We must focus on the work of service to the people led ably by President Ramaphosa, and that’s exactly what is happening.
A complaint was registered at a police station and the police responded by saying this matter is being attended to. What else is it if not mischief?
“The president can’t speak parallel to law enforcement processes.”
The ANC’s Mpumalanga spokesperson Ngelosi Ndhlovu said she could not comment on the matter as it was “national politics”.
“We only concentrate on regional matters. We don’t just generate a decision, an item needs to be put on the agenda for discussion and then we make a decision,” she said.
Political analyst Sipho Seepe said he was not surprised by Mbalula’s comments, as his “inconsistent utterings”, fuelled the notion that he was always “singing for his supper”.
“Well, Fikile Mbalula is known to express his views. You know where he stands at any point in time.
The fact that he is known to change tune is neither here nor there. At times political developments dictate that one reconsider one’s earlier position.
“In as much as others have nailed their flags to the political mast, Mbalula has also done so. He has dared those who might argue that he is out of order.”
In terms of whether Ramaphosa’s ambitions for another term would be realised, Seepe said: “The party does not have a succession (plan). That is left to its internal battles that are always ongoing.
Being in the Youth League simply prepares you for future battles. No victory is guaranteed.”
Cape Times