President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly survived an attack on his leadership after a senior ANC official called for his resignation ahead of the ruling party’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting.<\/p>\n
The Sunday Times<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>reported that ANC NEC member Tony Yengeni was one of the most senior officials to call for the president’s resignation, saying that he lacked the ‘moral compass’ to lead the fight against corruption.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Tony was saying is that the issue of stepping aside should start with you as the president \u2026 You are in court,\u201d said an executive, who asked not to be named. Ramaphosa was also accused of bringing the ANC into disrepute by describing the party as ‘accused number one’.<\/p>\n “Once you say that, you are putting the ANC into disaster. That is the narrative of the DA and other opposition parties. As ANC president, you can\u2019t align yourself with that,\u201d the executive said.<\/p>\n “So, you must lead by example and step aside. Emulate Zuma, who stepped aside when he was accused in 2005, before the national general council brought him back.”<\/p>\n Despite the calls to step down, Ramaphosa remained steadfast in tackling corruption and said he will present himself before the party\u2019s integrity commission to answer questions relating to the funding of his 2017 campaign to become party president.<\/p>\n Letter to the ANC<\/strong><\/p>\n Ramaphosa faces increased scrutiny after he sent an open letter<\/a><\/strong> to ANC members last weekend, criticising corruption within the party. He said that the ANC needs to face the reality that its leaders stand accused of corruption \u2013 and that the party itself is \u201caccused number one\u201d.<\/p>\n He said that the corruption involved private sector companies and individuals, but is also deeply rooted within the party and the government.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the inheritors of the legacy of Luthuli, Tambo and Mandela, we must be honest with ourselves. We must acknowledge that our movement, (the ANC), has been and remains deeply implicated in South Africa\u2019s corruption problem.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to be sensitive to the concerns that are being raised by our people about our role as a movement in corrupt activities,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, the ANC and its leaders stand accused of corruption. The ANC may not stand alone in the dock, but it does stand as accused number one. This is the start reality that we must now confront,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa said that he isn\u2019t suggesting that corruption is only a problem within the ANC \u2013 or that corruption is widespread among members \u2013 but the party has been ineffective in dealing with corruption, and in some cases allowed it to flourish.<\/p>\n Possible cabinet reshuffle<\/strong><\/p>\n As the political manoeuvring is set to continue this weekend, Bloomberg<\/a><\/strong> reported that Ramaphosa is considering making changes to his cabinet, citing people familiar with the deliberations.<\/p>\n The meeting could be a showdown between the president and his rivals within the ANC, the people said, asking not to be identified as a public statement hasn\u2019t been made.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa is looking for ways to revive South Africa\u2019s stagnant economy and help boost investor confidence in his administration.<\/p>\n
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