Some feel that President Cyril Ramaphosa lied to the public in a statement confirming Lindiwe Sisulu’s apology. Image: GCIS/ Flickr
Pule Mabe snubs ANC scuffle: Denies beef between Ramaphosa and Sisulu
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe has denied any strain in the relationship between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lindiwe Sisulu.
Some feel that President Cyril Ramaphosa lied to the public in a statement confirming Lindiwe Sisulu’s apology. Image: GCIS/ Flickr
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe has acknowledged the recent, highly publicized, exchange between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Commenting on the matter, Mabe denied any tension between the pair, blaming the media for pushing a ‘narrative’ that implied strain between the ANC politicians.
Mabe denies spat between ANC titans
Speaking during a recent interview, Mabe appealed against the exchange being interpreted as a feud.
“We will not speak into a media narrative that suggests a spat. We do not believe there was a public spat. I am going to leave the media to make its own interpretations of what would have happened out there,”
Pule Mabe
Mabe also avoided confirming whether there have been calls from within the ANC for Sisulu to be disciplined over the ordeal.
“It is not my job as the national spokesperson of the ANC to validate whispers. I don’t do that. There is no way a self-respecting organisation like the ANC will spend two days discussing an individual NEC member. We have a lot of things [to address]. People of SA are looking for jobs,”
Pule Mabe
Ramaphosa touches on subject
Speaking during his closing address at the ANC NEC lekgotla, Ramaphosa touched on the controversial matter without naming Sisulu directly.
“Counter-revolution is wearing a different countenance in our country. There are expressions of democracy under threat that are a result of loss of ethical compass and moral direction. The ANC and the [Tripartite] Alliance reaffirm our support for the constitution, the bill of rights and the judiciary. We distance ourselves from narratives that seek to negate its transformative intent and gains,”
President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Both Ramaphosa and Sisulu dig heels in over ‘apology’
Ramaphosa and Sisulu have engaged in a very public disagreement over what the Presidency dubbed an apology and retraction from the Minister following her ‘attack’ on the South African judiciary.
Sisulu, however, quickly refuted the statement issued by Ramaphosa’s office. The Minister firmly insists that Ramaphosa had misinterpreted the meeting entirely. However, Ramaphosa has responded to this statement from his ANC colleague by ‘standing by’ his comments on the subject.
