Johannesburg – The ANC Veterans League has strongly denounced what it perceives as underhand and divisive efforts to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa from office, asserting that the party leader should be allowed to complete his current term. This firm stance follows increasing speculation within ANC structures and the circulation of a contentious letter among senior ANC members in the Eastern Cape, which proposed Ramaphosa's removal and the replacement of the national executive committee (NEC) with a national task team led by former president Thabo Mbeki.
Speaking on behalf of the Veterans’ League, President Snuki Zikalala made it clear that the organisation rejects any attempts to destabilise the governing party through secret campaigns and informal lobbying aimed at unseating the president. He emphasised that such behaviour is not only detrimental to the organisation but also contradicts the values the Veterans League seeks to uphold.
“We as the Veterans League, condemn such devious activities in ANC meetings because they divide the organisation,” Zikalala stated emphatically. “We would not advise veterans to be involved in divisive activities. We, as the league, are behind the president, and, as far as we are concerned, he must finish his term.”
Zikalala's comments follow the circulation of a letter on the Eastern Cape provincial executive committee's WhatsApp group by provincial chair Oscar Mabuyane. The issue was subsequently raised at the Veterans League’s political education gathering in the Eastern Cape, an event attended by Mbeki two weeks prior.
According to Zikalala, the letter was brought up during the meeting, with suggestions made that the political school lectures associated with Mbeki were being exploited to undermine Ramaphosa’s leadership. He firmly dismissed this notion, asserting that the Veterans League has no involvement in such activities. “It was mentioned in the meeting of the Veterans League,” he explained. “It was a letter saying that these lectures of the political school of Mbeki are meant to remove the president. We are saying we are not involved and will not take part in it.”
Zikalala stated that he does not know who initiated or circulated the letter, but he cautioned that the league would not align itself with individuals or factions he described as “dark forces” attempting to sow discord within the ANC. “We are not going to align with dark forces who want to destabilise the ANC and cause disunity,” he affirmed.
Addressing recent media reports suggesting that Ramaphosa was preparing to step down after South Africa hands over the G20 presidency to the United States next month, Zikalala clarified that the president had not communicated any such intention. He added that the rumours appeared to originate solely from unnamed sources.
“We are reading about this in the media because the president has not said so,” Zikalala pointed out. “There are people who are peddling malicious rumours all the time. They want to make a mountain out of a molehill. The president has not pronounced it, and neither has it been discussed in the national working committee or national executive committee.”
Zikalala insisted that the letter was an isolated incident and urged its author to reveal themselves and clarify their motives. “We believe it is an isolated incident, and we do not know the person who wrote it. They must come out clearly and tell us what their aim and objectives are.”
Turning to speculation about tension between Ramaphosa and Mbeki, Zikalala dismissed such claims. He said Mbeki participates fully in NEC meetings and often raises issues in a critical but constructive manner. “He raises issues critically within the NEC, not in a manner that undermines President Cyril Ramaphosa, but sharply as a comrade,” he explained.
Regarding the ANC’s succession debate, Zikalala cautioned against suggestions that the party could hold an uncontested elective conference, despite infighting and factions usually marring ANC conferences. He instead believes that democratic principles demand that those who wish to stand for leadership positions be allowed to lobby. “Why should we have an uncontested conference? We believe in democracy. If individuals want to stand, let them campaign.”
In summary, the ANC Veterans League stands firmly behind President Ramaphosa, condemning any attempts to undermine his leadership and calling for transparency and adherence to democratic principles within the party.
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