Ramaphosa accused of snubbing Magashule in his rally speech

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the African National Congress’s final rally before the May 8 elections on Sunday, with people on social media immediately reading into the fact that while he made a point of greeting several ANC leaders at the beginning of his speech, he did not directly greet either ANC secretary general Ace Magashule or deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte.

“I extend my greetings to he National Chairperson, the deputy president of the ANC comrade David Mabuza, the national officials of the ANC, members of the national executive committee, members of the provincial executive committee of Gauteng as led by comrade David Makhura, and I extend my greetings to the Women’s League,” Ramaphosa said.

He also greeted “the leadership of the veterans league,” as well as former president Kgalema Motlanthe and veteran anti-apartheid activists Andrew Mlangeni and Sophie de Bruyn. 

READ MORE: SA still needs Zuma – Magashule

He went on to then greet former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan, who the president said “is here as part of the observer mission for our elections”, as well as former liberation movements in Southern Africa, leaders of trade-based organisations , leaders of NGOs and business organisations, traditional leaders, comrades and friends and fellow South Africans”.

He also mentioned that “there are others of our comrades and compatriots who are meeting at Moses Mabhida in KwaZulu-Natal” and that another rally was taking place concurrently to the one he was addressing at Ellis Park, next door at the Johannesburg stadium.

It stands to reason that people would pick up on the president’s failure to mention Magashule or Duarte by name. The pair are considered loyal supporters of former president Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa, meanwhile, recently rubbished claims made by Magashule that his phone had been tapped by someone within the organisation.

It was reported earlier on Sunday that an article in the Sunday Times alleges that both Magashule and Zuma were involved in secret meetings that led to the establishment of the African Transformation Movement (ATM).

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