‘Ramaphosa must relax, he’s going nowhere’ – Mbalula says ahead of Phala Phala vote

While President Cyril Ramaphosa faces one of the hardest days of his political career on Tuesday – when parliament votes on Section 89 report – Fikile Mbalula had this short message to him: “Relax Mr President, there is nowhere you are going.”

Mbalula assured throngs of Ramaphosa supporters at Ga-Mokwakwaila Stadium in Bolobedu, Limpopo, on Sunday that no amount of threats had the power to remove Ramaphosa from his position as president of both the ANC and the country.

“We are not cowards. We remain resolute that Ramaphosa will remain, come Tuesday and come the 55th elective conference,” said “Mr Fear Fokol” to the delight of the jubilant crowd.

“We are not yellow-bellied and we are not frightened by seeing the buttocks of a man without first seeing the face behind the very same buttocks.”

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‘Ramaphosa a good man’

Mbalula – who was flanked by Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu; former Limpopo ANC provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane; former ANC deputy provincial chair Dickson Masemola; former Limpopo ANC Youth League provincial chair Joshua Matlou; and ANC NEC member Pinky Kekana – said Ramaphosa was a good man.

“When Ramaphosa wanted to resign in light of the Section 89 investigation report on the Phala Phala farm scandal, it was us, led by current ANC national chair Gwede Mantashe who advised him not to do so.”

Mbalula said because Ramaphosa was a good man, he wanted to resign with his name still intact. “But we refused. We reminded him that the investigation report by Section 89 [panel] was clear. It said he ‘may’ have a case to answer and not that he had a case to answer.

“When we went to the 2017 national ANC elective conference in Nasrec, I was not supporting Matamela [Ramaphosa]. I was supporting comrade Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. After Ramaphosa won the conference, I was sure it was the beginning of my downfall. I was sure that I am a has-been.

“But when I was disillusioned, thinking my political career has come to the end of the road, Matamela said to me: ‘Come here, my son. You still have a role to play in the organisation of your ancestors – the ANC.’

“Through him, the organisation appointed me head of ANC elections and then, who am I not to defend such a good man?

“We are a team of men and women, including my colleague Pinky Kekana, speaking with one voice, saying Ramaphosa will still remain our president post Tuesday and post Nasrec. My promise to you is: Come rain or high waters, we will come out of this conference with Ramaphosa re-elected for a second term.”

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Mchunu – who spent his weekend in Limpopo ensuring the ANC’s promise between elections to provide water to the people was realised – urged delegates to the ANC conference to vote with their conscience and to elect people who will take the ANC forward.

Mchunu said it was a mistaken belief that the ANC had failed to live up to its promises in delivering basic services to the people.

“We are been applauded by international communities everywhere we go.

“We are the only government in Africa that would go to the poorest of the poor and ask them how they want us to help them,” he said.

“We are the only government in the entire continent which would go to a family and ask them where can we build them a house. We are a government that would cut ribbons and hand over the house keys to the poor without lifting a hand because we believe shelter is dignity.”

Mopani mayor Pule Shayi – whose region, Norman Mashabane, is the biggest in Limpopo in terms of membership – said the future looked green under Ramaphosa.

Shayi urged elective conference delegates to vote for Ramaphosa for party president. He said Ramaphosa must be given a chance to lead and to continue with his renewal programme.

He branded Ramaphosa the messiah, a committed community worker and a father of the nation.

Shayi said Ramaphosa was one of the best presidents the country has had since the advent of democracy in 1994.