Ramaphosa rubbishes Magashule’s phone-tapping claims
The president says he had also believed that his own phone had been bugged at some point.
Cyril Ramaphosa and Ace Magashule.
In a rare television interview, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa rubbished Ace Magashule’s recent claims that phones of senior ANC members were being tapped.
“I also suspected that my phone was bugged, there is no phone that is bugged,” said Ramaphosa on the newly launched Newzroom Afrika.
Thulasizwe Simelane is back at what he does best. Enjoying this interview with the President on @Newzroom405 And @JJTabane too and @CathyMohlahlana Brilliant television pic.twitter.com/2lTcgIMgpR
— Senzeni Ndebele (@senndebs) May 2, 2019
This was in response to Magashule’s claims that “state organs” were being used to fight political battles.
“My phone and the [deputy secretary-general] Jessie Duarte’s are tapped,” he said, and he went on to say many other comrades were complaining about the same thing and he had advised them to speak out. The ANC secretary general also revealed that he had reported his suspicions to the inspector-general of Intelligence Setlhomamaru Dintwe.
Ramaphosa went on to dismiss the underlying claim that said tapping was fueled by factional battles within the party.
“He [Magashule] is dealing with the matter. Let us have trust in the efficacy of the process to deal with this matter. Uniting the ANC was always going to be a challenge and I can say we have succeeded in forging unity in the ANC.”
WATCH: We are ready for battle, says Magashule after ‘tapped phones’ discovery
(Additional reporting by Gopolang Chawane)
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