ANC hits back at Ramaphosa friend for labelling detractors 'criminals'
Updated | By Cliff Shiko
The ANC has hit back at Cyril Ramaphosa's friend James Motlatsi for labelling the president's critics on the national executive committee as criminals.
Motlatsi, who is a businessman and veteran trade unionist, was speaking during an interview on Radio 702 on Friday.
He said the embattled president should not resign at the behest of the "criminals in the ANC."
"According to him he said let me leave and I will fight from outside, I told him not to resign because this is an attack on you. You are not there [office] being put by these group of criminals, who are saying step aside. You were elected by the people of this country, if the people of this country say go, you should go and don't even hesitate. But you cannot be told by criminals to go."
Ramaphosa is under pressure to resign after an independent parliamentary panel probing the burglary scandal at his farm said on Wednesday that it found enough evidence to warrant a parliamentary debate on whether he should be impeached.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe says Motlatsi's remarks go against the party’s culture of robust and impersonal engagements.
"While the ANC holds no right to dictate personal relations it is insensitive and rather disappointing that someone of his statue can make such reckless insinuations at a time when the movement and the country are faced with a dilemma from the report."
Mabe has called on Motlatsi to withdraw his remarks.
"The ANC is shocked at the remarks, and we call on Motlatsi to consider withdrawing his unfortunate divisive remarks which are harmful and hurting to our movement. The same goes to others who may be tempted to engage of such public spat."
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