By: Natasha Archary
The gloves are off between former President Jacob Zuma and his successor Cyril Ramaphosa, after the former accused the current leader of treason.
Speaking at a news conference in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 October, Zuma said Cyril Ramaphosa is corrupt and is to blame for the country’s loadshedding crisis.
Zuma said the rolling blackouts were fixed during his tenure as President and that the worst loadshedding spell in South Africa’s history is due to the current government.
“Your President has committed treason. No President should conduct private business whilst in office. It is inconsistent with the oath of office taken by the President. Our country’s problems are too big for a President who is busy hustling on the side.”
Jacob Zuma says Cyril Ramaphosa is corrupt and committed treason
🟥WATCH🟥 Former President Jacob Zuma says President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed treason. “No President Should conduct private business while in office, its not allowed 🚫 #Zuma #ZumaNationalAddress #ZumaPresser pic.twitter.com/RlVAScJkpx
— Central News (@centralnewsza) October 22, 2022
Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala scandal has put a blot on his reputation, after he was implicated in a cover-up of the $4 million theft at his game farm.
Zuma said that if something similar had happened at Nkandla and involved him, that he would have been ripped to shreds and he wonders why the same isn’t happening with Cyril.
“I often wonder what the situation would have been if I was the one accused of having millions of dollars hidden under mattresses. I wonder what would have happened if that was an allegation out of Nkandla.
Let us not beat about the bush about the neglect of constitutional duty that comes with abusing the office of the president to conduct private business. I am assuming that what President Ramaphosa has said about the many dollars under his bed or furniture is true — that he conducts private business while serving as president of our country.
That, on its own, is unconstitutional and those who applaud him for doing so commit the most disgusting transgression. Conducting private business while holding the high office of president is nothing but corruption, which is inconsistent with the nature of that office and the constitution.”
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