The ANC in Mpumalanga has come out in support of beleaguered President Cyril Ramaphosa while a Joburg regional leader has changed his mind from calling for him to step down last week. 

Speaking after delivering the political report during the ongoing provincial general council in White River, Mpumalanga, deputy chairperson of the ANC,  Speedy Mashilo, said he would continue to support Ramaphosa for a second term.

The section 89 report which found that Ramaphosa “may” have a case to answer regarding the 2020 Phala-phala farm theft of dollars had holes, he said.   

“Remember the president is still to talk to parliament about the report. But we would respect the outcome of the NEC meeting, which is sitting  to give us direction, and then we will know what to do. However. we have not changed our position that we support the president for a second term. 

“We are still lobbying other provinces on leadership. We are lobbying other provinces so that we all share in the top six; not one province monopolising the top-six,” said Mashilo

He added that “there’s nothing wrong” with current deputy president David Mabuza “but we are now electing another person. That’s how democracy is.” 

The SACP also rallied around Ramaphosa, saying the findings against him were “legally inconclusive”.

“Using words like ‘may’ shows the degree of uncertainty of the findings. As such, the report may be subjected to judicial review by the president. The alliance needs to provide collective leadership in handling the section 89 report, related processes and the entire situation, without taking away the right of the president to review the report,” said SACP spokesperson Alex Mashile.

“The SACP respects the right of the president to take the report on review and this will contribute towards clearing what seems to be glaring flaws in it. The call for the president to resign is premature. It is also unfortunate that this matter is now being weaponised for factional manoeuvres within our movement as we approach the ANC 55th national conference this December. This is a matter that affects the alliance and, more importantly, the country,” Mashilo said.​

Johannesburg ANC regional secretary Sasabona Manganye, who last Thursday called for Ramaphosa to step down, was yesterday singing a different tune.

Last week, Manganye said: “The fact that it has reached this stage, the ANC is very clear in its resolutions…We have been in this situation before with president Jacob Zuma and the ANC failed to hold him accountable and it cost the organisation dearly.

“President Ramaphosa is not immune to the NEC guidelines on the step-aside resolution introduced in February. He is the champion of moral regeneration within the ANC, he should subject himself to those guidelines.

“As much as we might have preferred that he serves for the second time… in this regard, we have no moral ground to want to say that the president must be allowed to serve the second term under this kind of cloud hanging over his head. He must do the right thing and step aside.”

Yesterday Manganye said the statement had been in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the Johannesburg region.

“The ANC has its internal processes which deal with determining whether the conduct of its leaders are consistent with the core values of the ANC and are not compromising its standing in society. This process must be allowed to take place and make a determination of whether he should step aside or not.

“He has received overwhelming support to serve the second term. The national conference is taking place in less than two weeks so it will be fair that branches through their delegates be allowed to determine his fate. Even Johannesburg branches said president Ramaphosa for second term.”

Manganye said Ramaphosa’s response to the panel’s report would provide the ANC membership an opportunity to review the step-aside rule.

“Section 3.4 is clear on what should happen in a situation like this, but nothing is reported in compliance with the guidelines. Possibly this implies that section 3.4 is not easily implementable. As a result, to avoid selective application, we should then review it in the manner in which it will be implementable without fear or favour.”