South Africa to ramp up vaccinations as foot-and-mouth disease spreads
‘I will not remain quiet’ as SA burns, Cyril Ramaphosa says
4:08 CAT | 12 Jul 2017
Business Day / ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa delivering a message from the ANC during the 14th Congress of the SACP held at Birchwood Hotel.
[South African] Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will no longer remain silent as SA loses its sovereignty, as a growing number of foreign organisations influence the country’s social policy.
“I will not remain silent, we cannot turn blind eye or keep quiet. I will not keep quiet … and remain numb to what this means for our country and its people,” he told the SACP’s congress, referring to state capture and corruption.
Ramaphosa said taxpayers had paid for the lavish Gupta wedding at Sun City when that money should have been used to build schools, clinics and roads.
That money needed to be recovered: “Should we remain quiet? No. I’m one who will not remain quiet,” he said.
He said there was an urgent need for an independent judicial commission of inquiry to be established as “the house is burning”.
In a tacit reference to ministers and President Jacob Zuma’s alleged involvement in state capture, he said a clear message must be sent that they would not be shielded.
“We won’t protect those in our own ranks who are involved in these actions …. We won’t protect those who use our slogans and appropriate them to prevent scrutiny of themselves.” Ramaphosa expressed great concern that UK-based public relations firm Bell Pottinger could “so effectively poison” our country to advance the narrow interests of a family and those aligned to them.
He accused the company of manipulating the movement’s own political concepts.
“Some among us are so gullible … had so much faith in these slogans crafted in London … shame on us,” he said.
Ramaphosa appealed to the SACP congress delegates not to abandon the tripartite alliance, saying it was important that at this time of weakness, all formations come together.
Despite a strong push for the SACP to contest state power, he urged delegates to pause before taking far-reaching decisions.
“State power has a wonderful ring to it … to find the red flags at the union buildings,” he quipped.
“But comrades face reality … as a revolutionary movement we must never take decisions … out of anger. Pause before you sign on that resolution.”
Source: Business Day
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.