Ramaphosa survives ouster attempt as ANC’s dying hyenas lash out for all they’re worth

Ramaphosa survived a bid to force him out of office at the ANC NEC three-day meeting over the weekend, clearing the way for him to overhaul his cabinet.

Published on:

31 Aug 2020, 10:10 am

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa released a seven-page letter he wrote to ANC members, in which he said that – while the ANC is not the only organisation guilty of corruption in South Africa – it is certainly the main suspect. Feeling the pressure of a nation growing agitated with every day that passes, it seems Ramaphosa was hoping to reassure South African voters and boost investor confidence in his administration. The ANC, however, was furious. In response to Ramaphosa's letter, Jacob Zuma penned his own letter in which he accuses the President of pointing fingers at the ANC in order to protect himself. In an apparent showdown between President Ramaphosa and his rivals, the ANC NEC met this weekend to decide what to do about members facing charges of corruption. At this three-day meeting, Ramaphosa reportedly survived a bid to force him out of office. In his Monday newsletter for BizNews Premium subscribers, BizNews founder Alec Hogg reported that, over the weekend, Chris Barron of the Sunday Times interviewed Hermione Cronje, head of the NPA's Investigating Directorate, who promised the first "high profile individual" will be charged in September. "With the net having closing tightly around Zuma, Magashule, Zwane, Gigaba and other hyenas, we shouldn't be surprised they're throwing everything they have at CR and Co", he said. – Nadya Swart