DA says Ramaphosa is ‘running scared’ from debate with Maimane

In a statement on Wednesday following clarification from the ANC that they would not be engaging in a televised debate on the SABC with opposition leader Mmusi Maimane, the DA has accused them of fearing such a debate.

There is no tradition in South Africa of ANC presidents being willing to debate with opposition leaders, with Tony Leon having tried to set it up with Thabo Mbeki, Helen Zille and Maimane trying unsuccessfully with Jacob Zuma, and now Maimane failing to debate Ramaphosa.

The last time it happened, Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk debated their positions and proposals to voters ahead of the first democratic elections of 1994.

DA spokesperson Refiloe Ntsekhe accused Ramaphosa of “running scared” after the SABC’s Big Debate Show invited both Maimane and Ramaphosa to a televised presidential debate on Sunday 28 April.

Maimane had welcomed the initiative and indicated he was ready and looking forward to going head-to-head with the president.

However, Ramaphosa on Wednesday declined to participate.

“It has been 25 years since the last presidential debate in South Africa. Since then, the ANC has denied the people of South Africa a proper contest of ideas between its presidential candidate and DA leaders,” said Ntsekhe.

“Cyril Ramaphosa’s retreat into the safety of Luthuli House confirms that he is no different from his predecessors. He is simply afraid of accounting for Marikana, Bosasagate and the ANC’s inability to create jobs.”

On Wednesday, the ANC said the party “refuses to be cajoled into a debate that never was between the ANC president, comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, with the DA leader, Mmusi Maimane”.

“We strongly dispute what is currently being touted by the SABC, that the organisation has confirmed or is even aware of a debate between its statesman and the DA’s Mmusi Maimane,” they said in their statement.

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