President Cyril Ramaphosa chairs the Presidential Working Group on Disability at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The Presidential Working Group on Disability is an advisory structure which focuses on the identification of strategic, focused and integrated measures to improve the socio-economic outcomes for persons with disabilities. The Working Group further advises on the positioning and resourcing of the disability rights architecture and is composed of 45 persons with disabilities or representing organizations of people with disabilities. South Africa. 26/02/2019. Siyabulela Duda (GCIS)
Ramaphosa defends SSA report, takes jab at Zuma’s “damages”
Cyril Ramaphosa and Jacob Zuma locked in a divisive power struggle.
President Cyril Ramaphosa chairs the Presidential Working Group on Disability at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The Presidential Working Group on Disability is an advisory structure which focuses on the identification of strategic, focused and integrated measures to improve the socio-economic outcomes for persons with disabilities. The Working Group further advises on the positioning and resourcing of the disability rights architecture and is composed of 45 persons with disabilities or representing organizations of people with disabilities. South Africa. 26/02/2019. Siyabulela Duda (GCIS)
President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the recent high-level panel review report on the embattled State Security Agency (SSA).
Speaking to reporters while campaigning in downtown Johannesburg, Ramaphosa praised the importance of ‘transparent’ reports and commissions. The SSA report, in particular, has ruffled some feathers due to its serious allegations of impropriety concerning former president Jacob Zuma, sparking fears of intensifying factional infighting within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Ramaphosa: SSA report a step in the right direction
While the report doesn’t mention Zuma by name, it highlights the dubious tenure of Thulani Dlomo and Arthur Fraser. Both Dlomo and Fraser headed the SSA during Zuma’s time as president of South Africa. It’s alleged that absolute impunity, endorsed by Zuma himself, kept Dlomo out of the firing line and, according to the SSA report, free to do the former president’s bidding. Dlomo’s dishonourable discharge from the SSA was followed by a short-lived stint as South Africa’s ambassador to Japan.
Almost immediately after being sworn in as the president of South Africa, Ramaphosa recalled Dlomo from his position as ambassador. The fight against corruption within state-appointed organisations is set to intensify, with Dlomo and Zuma, once again, taking centre stage.
While Zuma has already voiced his blatant criticism and disregard for the allegations of impropriety insinuated by the SSA report, Ramaphosa has accepted the findings, saying:
“It’s good to be transparent and let these things come out so that we can repair whatever damage has been done in the past. We’re now on a really good and strong path – this is how we continue to build the state. State craft is about making sure that you repair whatever damage has been done… and you move forward.
I’m assured that we are now going to have a properly realigned State Security Agency.”
Ramaphosa versus Zuma, the power struggle continues
Zuma, on the other hand, has been far less tolerant of the high-level panel review report. The former president, who still holds great power within the ranks of the ANC executive, has been at the centre of a political power struggle, which has culminated in alleged overthrow plots, espionage and subjugation. Zuma took to Twitter to voice his concerns on the SSA report, saying:
“I have never been asked any questions by this committee. This committee has 2 well known Apartheid spies. I’ve never sold out nor written letters to the SB. I feel nothing when Apartheid spies call me corrupt. I hope people are not opening a can of worms which they might regret.”
This isn’t the first time Ramaphosa and Zuma have butted heads. During a rally earlier in the year, Ramaphosa labelled Zuma’s tenure as “nine years lost”. Zuma hit back, saying:
“Were these nine years wasted? I don’t think so. We had the biggest infrastructure programme – worth more than R1 trillion – which was put in place. Why should our leaders then say this was a waste? It’s political dishonesty, and something that I don’t understand.”
