African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Ace Magashule has said he was among those who approached Cyril Ramaphosa to become ANC Deputy President in 2012.
Magashule was addressing ANC-aligned students at Wits University on Wednesday ahead of student representative council elections.
He was reiterating his “principle” of defending all elected ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, and now Ramaphosa.
In 2012 in Mangaung, it was us who identified comrade Cyril to become the Deputy President of the ANC.
It was us, with Zweli Mkhize and Supra Mahumapelo – when others were saying Cyril is part of capital and the bourgeoisie – it was us who defended him.
Ace Magashule
Magashule emphasised that he “respects” President Ramaphosa because that’s how he has been “nurtured in the politics of the ANC.”
No Fightback
Magashule also dismissed perceptions that defending or supporting former President Jacob Zuma is “fighting back.”
Even now when I say President Zuma has been dealt with, there’s no fightback. I can’t fight back. Fight back against what?
Ace Magashule
He said Zuma is being “dealt with” in order to weaken the ANC and “the revolution.”
Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book about him, Gangster State, is also part of efforts to divide ANC, he claimed.
The ANC Secretary-General said he’ll continue fighting for the implementation of ANC conference resolutions.
In this regard, he said there are no differences between him and Ramaphosa.
We as the Top 6, myself and President Ramaphosa, we have not differed. And it is president and all of us who are saying we must implement the resolutions of Nasrec.
Ace Magashule
‘White monopoly capital’
Magashule also repeated his long-held view that South Africa’s economy is controlled by “a few,” which is “white monopoly capital.”
He said monopoly capital in South Africa has to be labelled “white” so that people fight it with more vigour.
“If you say monopoly capital you are not going to dismantle it,” he explained.
Magashule also called for the unity of African countries and the BRICS formation (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to defeat “western imperialism.”