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Cyril Ramaphosa.
Photo: Gianluigi Guercia / AFP
- President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC has been “turbocharged” after a tense week for the decades-long party.
- He spoke after paying tribute to the late icon of the struggle Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at a wreath ceremony to mark the third anniversary of his death.
- She called the anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC Women’s League without fear and said that she would have supported the call for a renewal of the ANC.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that the ANC is not in danger of collapse, and that the recent period of stress had actually left it turbocharged.
“It’s not about to collapse. It’s actually been turbocharged,” he said.
Ramaphosa spoke in Johannesburg after a wreath ceremony to commemorate the death of ANC fighting icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018.
“It has been turbocharged to a higher level,” Ramaphosa said in an impromptu question and answer session with the media.
He said the party had a “wonderful” meeting recently, with much discussion about the Covid-19 pandemic, the imminent announcement to speed up the vaccination program and the renewal of the ANC.
“We have no doubt that the ANC is going to be on a path of unity and renewal,” Ramaphosa told the media that they should focus on that aspect. He said any leadership changes will be discussed at the party’s next political conference. by 2022.
Previously, Ramaphosa paid tribute to Madikizela-Mandela as a courageous activist against the evil of apartheid, who reportedly called for unity in the ANC while she was going through a difficult period.
“Mam uWinnie was not called the mother of the nation for nothing,” said Ramaphosa, whose presidency sits halfway between that of the country and that of the majority party, the ANC.
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“She was called the mother of the nation, not only because of her position, but also because of her deeds,” he said.
“He did it at a critical moment in the course of our struggle when our leaders were in jail or when they were in exile.”
Madikizela-Mandela had ignited the ANC in the country and had given strength and courage to many because of her bravery. Ramaphosa said that if she had still been alive, she would have been at the forefront of protecting people struggling against poverty and inequality, and would have united the ANC as it went through its current troubles.
He also paid tribute to the late Charlotte Maxeke, whose birthday was approaching.
“We have been blessed in South Africa to have had great women leaders.”
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