South Africa
Mabuyane warns against Ramaphosa resignation─── 08:45 Thu, 08 Dec 2022
The ANC chairperson in the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, has stood firm by President Cyril Ramaphosa's side as he seeks to take the Section 89 panel’s Phala Phala report on review to the Constitutional Court.
According to the SABC, Mabuyane is reported to be one of the president’s allies who convinced him not to tender his resignation last week, after the Section 89 panel found that Ramaphosa may have a case to answer.
Speaking to the SABC, Mabuyane warned of "the consequences if Ramaphosa were to resign".
ALSO READ: Ramaphosa told to 'fight, fight, fight'
"We thank those who stood firm to make sure that the President doesn’t resign. We can’t be selfish. There are millions of our people who are looking at the ANC and its government. You can’t lower the bar for such a decision.
"A president must understand that you must be strong, not that you are a denialist and you must make sure that you carry the aspirations of many South Africans and that you are not just leading because it’s convenient. You are leading because we are pursuing a revolution.
"You must not be easily intimidated when you are leading. You must be able to confront some of these issues. If we had allowed a situation like that, we would never have another president finishing a term in South Africa."
Mabuyane, who is also an ANC deputy president nominee, has maintained that he has never been involved in any acts of fraud or corruption.
ALSO READ: Lawyer says Ramaphosa to challenge Section 89 report in ConCourt
Last year, the now-suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that Mabuyane had benefited to the tune of R450 000 from the R1.1 million siphoned from the Mbizana Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
The money was allegedly linked to the memorial service of late struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
"I paid Babalo Madikizela, it was above board. I declared this in my disclosure to the legislature. How do you declare fraud? It’s nonsensical. It’s rubbish.
"That’s why I’ve taken that report on review. We are waiting for the judgment anytime soon. That was the worst thing that I’ve ever seen. When you read a report that says all other issues, but when it comes to findings, it says any... when it comes to remedial action, you can tell it was a cut-and-paste job. It was just done because we must square up," Mabuyane explains.
