African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Ace Magashule has come out in support of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma amid the controversy surrounding the ban on cigarette sales.
In a statement issued late on Saturday, Magashule said the ANC noted the “continuing attacks” on Dlamini-Zuma “for diligently carrying out her duties as the Minister responsible for the coordination of our country’s national mitigation efforts.”
Magashule was seemingly reacting to social media criticism of Dlamini-Zuma following a News24 report on Friday that she had pushed for a continuation of the ban on cigarette sales during a recent meeting of the National Command Council (NCCC).
‘Wedge drivers’
He siad NCCC meetings are “confidential” and its decisions are taken collectively and “should never be individualised.”
He added, “It is entirely unacceptable that there are evidently wedge drivers who are in the service of certain businesses.
“They maliciously attack and undermine our leaders. This is particularly blatant with regards to the proposed continuing ban on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco-related products.
“Those who do so show a callous disregard for the health of our citizens, and seem only interested in crass profiteering. We call on Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to remain focused and to continue with the excellent work that she doing as part of the collective.”
Appeal for support
Magashule said the ANC fully supports the Cabinet and NCCC’s decisions and appealed to all South Africans to do the same.
“We call on those who are trying to undermine Cabinet and the NCCC, and the decisions that they collectively take, to forthwith cease with their selfish and unpatriotic behaviour,” he added.
The government has been under pressure to lift the bans as it contemplates downgrading the lockdown from level 4 to level 3 by 1 June.
According to the News24 report, Dlamini-Zuma reportedly said lifting the bans would be “too much of a health risk” during the NCCC meeting.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is said to have supported her, but Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize was reportedly swayed by counter-arguments.
According to the report, there was no final decision taken at the meeting, which was chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa will address the nation on Sunday at 19h00, according to a statement by the Presidency issued on Saturday.