Ramaphosa says he will not remove his deputy amid outrage

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he has no intention to remove his Deputy President, Paul Mashatile. Pressure for his removal comes after Paul Mashatile’s bodyguards were caught on camera assaulting two men in Johannesburg at the beginning of July.

In a viral video, Mashatile’s bodyguards are seen pulling two men from a vehicle and kicking them. The video caused outrage from members of the public who condemned the incident. The two men were members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF).

In an interview, President Ramaphosa made it clear that only he has the power to decide who stays and who goes. “The fact is that I am the only one who appointed the deputy president, and I am the only one who could remove him unless the party says so”, said the president.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Cyril Ramaphosa tells his deputy not to worry [VIDEO]

MASHATILE’S REACTION TO THE ASSAULT

The deputy president condemned the event and described it as unfortunate. He was not at the scene of the assault. In a statement released by his office, it stated, “The deputy president abhors any unnecessary use of force, particularly against unarmed civilians,”.

RAMAPHOSA’S STATEMENT ON MASHATILE

President Ramaphosa dismissed rumors that the deputy president was on his way out. This was during an exclusive interview with City Press. He expressed his confidence in Mashatile and stated that he is a valuable member of the party who has contributed greatly to ANC politics.

He emphasized that the Deputy president’s role is important in promoting unity and ensuring effective leadership within the party. He firmly asserted that he has never entertained the thought of removing his deputy.

ALSO READ: Rosemary Ndlovu caught with a cellphone in jail

PHONE HACKING ALLEGATIONS

The president further talked about his phone hacking incident. He revealed that he has previously fallen victim to hackers and described it as a huge problem in the country. According to him, his phone was hacked by criminals who requested money from his friends and contacts.

The hackers also accessed his WhatsApp and used his photo to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals. President Ramaphosa became aware of the incident when one of his friends reached out to authenticate the money borrowing.

ANC PARTY POLITICS

President Ramaphosa touched on the issue of corruption within the ANC. He stated that the role of the deputy president is essential in rooting out corrupt members. He however acknowledged that there’s a lot to be done as far as corruption is concerned.

ALSO READ: VIP Unit Assault: Is Deputy President Paul Mashatile lying?

This article was originally published by Noreen Khakayi.