Ramaphosa accused of putting SA into disrepute

A movement calling itself, Defend South Africa, led a march today, calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s head.

The group says President Ramaphosa has failed to effectively lead government.

It is citing staggering crime rates in the country, lawlessness and economic collapse as some of the reasons for the stance.

In support of the march was S’khathele Women’s Forum whose members wore underwear on their heads as hats to represent women and children across the country who, the group says, are being violated daily.

S’khathele Women’s Forum’s Nokulunga Qwabe says foreign nationals in the country have more rights than women and children.

Qwabe says they have become voiceless, while illegal immigrants are granted undeserved rights.

The activist accuses the President of putting the country into disrepute, saying he should shoulder the blame for the lawlessness that prevails.

“Today with these panties on our heads, we are speaking on behalf of women and children in the country who continue to be raped within a justice system that doesn’t play its role well, because Ramaphosa has ruined the whole country. As women of South Africa this man has undressed us, that’s why you see underwear on our heads, because what needs to remain hidden and sacred, has been put out there in exposure easily,” says Qwabe.

MK Party’s Daveyton branch also came out in support of the protest.

The township’s party commander, Smart Mkhaliphi, believes that President Ramaphosa does not have the best interest of South Africans at heart.

Mkhaliphi says historically disadvantaged South Africans are at a loss, while foreign nationals in the country flourish.

“There are so many crimes that happen unattended. There is a case whereby a Nigerian raped a South African child, but he got out of prison on bail and he is a foreign national,” says Mkhaliphi.

He believes that it’s absurd that most South Africans are living below the poverty line while they are citizens of a mineral rich county like South Africa.

He also expressed concern over the recent tariffs by the US, saying they will further exacerbate the dire financial position of many South Africans.

He claims that President Ramaphosa cares more about imperialist capitalism, than prioritising South Africans.

Defend SA’s Chairperson, Tumelo Mooki, accuses President Ramaphosa of stealing public assets and putting the country in debt.

Mooki says the President’s main mandate is to basically steal public assets and hand them over to the private sector.

He says thanks to Ramaphosa, the government now finds itself broke due to his reckless lending.

“This president borrowed over R2,6 trillion since he took over, and today government is in debt. We are paying over R 390 billion in debt repayments, international monetary funds and the world bank. That is why the country is broke today. For the first time in the history of this democracy, government cannot afford its own budget. It’s a sign of a state that is beginning to fail and we are not going to watch and do nothing about this. So, we are saying the man has failed and continues to fail the country and therefore must resign with immediate effect,” says the vocal Defend SA chairperson.

According to Mooki, Ramaphosa’s presidency was forced upon citizens as his party didn’t garner enough votes to govern the country during last year’s national elections.

He alleges that President Ramaphosa was appointed by a white capital who negotiated with the DA to keep him in power and says he stands to benefit from greed and theft.

Former Tshwane Operation Dudula organiser, Elias Makgwadi, says President Ramaphosa is failing to implement the Immigration Act, and the country is suffering the consequences of his inaction.

The protestor who, like many others, braved the gloomy, wet weather to vent his frustrations over the current state of the country and governance, accuses the President of lacking political will and believes he should resign as a result.

Makgwadi says his main concern is the rising crime in the country, which he believes undocumented migrants are mostly behind.

“We’ve got the Immigration Act of 2002 that was legislated and gazetted by this government. We are basically saying to Ramaphosa to please implement and have a political will to protect South Africans. Crime is rising every day, our people are killed every day in SA by illegal foreigners because they are undocumented,” adds Makgwadi.

He accuses the ANC of using South Africans as voting cows, saying whenever the party needs votes it runs to them, yet when the country cries foul over staggering crime levels, it shows no interest.

The social rights activist referred to the recently murdered seven CPF members from Marry Me, saying the President hasn’t said a word about the tragedy.

Makgwadi also says the country sits with a high youth unemployment, while undocumented foreign nationals occupy seats on the job market.

He says President Ramaphosa has proven himself incapable of governing South Africa, and that he needs to step down to give deserving candidates a chance.

Defend SA’s National Organiser, Emmanuel  Masoa, says they plan to return to the Union Buildings to give President Ramaphosa a letter demanding his resignation.

Why Cyril Must Fall

Masoa says they were not able give their proposed resignation letter to any official today.

“The official that was there didn’t want to declare on what capacity are they receiving the resignation letter. We therefore decided not to give the letter since we cannot just give it to just anyone; it must be somebody in the Presidency,” says the protest leader.

Resignation Letter (1)

Masoa says he hopes today’s march landed on the right ears and that action against lawlessness will now be taken. Written by Odirile Rabolao