Ramaphosa fokol

President Cyril Ramaphosa responding to oral questions in the National Assembly, at the Good Hope Chambers in Cape Town – Photo: Flickr / GCIS

‘I fear fokol!’ – Ramaphosa, off his medication, lets loose in Parliament

Fikile Mbalula has just lost his ‘Mr. Fokol’ title, after President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a spicy response to some Parliamentary questions.

Ramaphosa fokol

President Cyril Ramaphosa responding to oral questions in the National Assembly, at the Good Hope Chambers in Cape Town – Photo: Flickr / GCIS

Cyril Ramaphosa has certainly enjoyed a… lively… time in Parliament this afternoon. Fresh from trying to shift the blame over the Russia-Ukraine conflict towards NATO, the president was soon challenged about domestic matters – and we doubt anyone was expecting the response he delivered.

A new Mr. Fear Fokol? Ramaphosa turns the air blue

We had an inkling, however, that today would be a bit different from the status quo. Ramaphosa took the bizarre step of telling the House that he had ‘forgot to take his medication’, claiming it might make him ‘slow to respond’.

No meds, no filter: Ramaphosa tells Parliament he ‘fears fokol’

However, by the time a question about Bheki Cele’s performance was put to him, President Ramaphosa decided to play it fast and loose. He simply told the National Assembly he fears ‘fokol’, and ‘is not afraid to act when needed’.

Blimey, that’s some going Cyril…

Ramaphosa then endured some more unfriendly fire from the opposition benches, with many of his political rivals lining up to take a pot-shot at the president – as the question about Bheki Cele got buried under some silliness.

Cyril defends Cele

Eventually, Cyril Ramaphosa did get round to answering the question, and he went into bat for his ministerial mate. The president stated that there’s no danger of Cele being fired, despite what the court of public opinion is saying.

“The appointment of ministers is not up for public discussion. We are addressing gaps in policing, including the recruitment of some 12 000 officers… It is only an opinion that Cele interferes in matters beyond his portfolio – however, sometimes there can be a straddling of the lanes.”

Cyril Ramaphosa