President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa
Protesters give ANC 48hrs to force Pres. Ramaphosa to resign over high petrol prices, load shedding, corruption
Protesters in South Africa have given the ruling African National Congress (ANC) a 48-hour ultimatum to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down from office.
The protesters, Friday, marched to the Luthuli House clad in the ANC regalia to demand the party force President Ramaphosa to leave office following growing corruption allegations leveled against the South African leader.
The protesters also demanded reduction in soaring petrol prices, end to load shedding by the country’s energy companies, among others.
Ramaphosa has been implicated by the South African populace in the Phala-Phala saga which saw the alleged theft of millions from his Limpopo farm.
The protesters came out in their numbers, expressing their unhappiness over how the ANC is handling the issue of the Phala-Phala Farm in Limpopo.
Clad in ANC regalia, they are demanding that party President Ramaphosa be suspended pending investigations on the robbery that took place at the farm in 2020.
The protest was led by Carl Niehaus, Supra Mahumapelo and Des Van Rooyen. Mahomapelo accused Ramaphosa of knowing all along that something was wrong at his farm, but chose to keep quiet about it, and that is problematic.
“Ramaphosa knew something was wrong, why did he choose to keep quiet about it, we are not taken seriously here and we need to take action on the matter, soon.”
Other demands in the memorandum include; the reduction of petrol price, the conversion of the ANC Policy conference into the first two days as a National General Council, the NGC and then the remaining days be dedicated to the Policy Conference.
The group of ANC members is also demanding that load-shedding be a thing of the past in South Africa, just as they gave the ANC 48 hours to announce Ramaphosa stepping down.
Protestor, Senzo Nkabinde says “By Sunday 17 July, he must go or we are going to occupy SABC, NPA …..effect a citizen’s arrest.”
The march started three hours after the set time – from Meritzfield Gerald Square to Luthuli House in Johannesburg. The memorandum was received by the ANC Head of Presidency, Sibongile Besani and National Executive Committee member, Collen Maine.
If ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa does not heed to this call by the protestors for him to step down, it remains to be seen how events will play out, come Monday.
