S. Africa’s Ramaphosa warns against destabilisation as ANC marks 110 years

 

South Africa’s ruling ANC, a storied liberation movement, marked its 110th anniversary Saturday in low-key fashion as the country reels from parliament’s destruction, last year’s deadly riots, and emerging details of official corruption.

In the stands of a stadium in Polokwane, in northeastern Limpopo province, a few hundred party members sporting the African National Congress’ signature yellow, green and black dotted the terraces.

It was a far cry from the noisy and large crowds of supporters that are traditionally bused in for the annual festivities, because of COVID-19 restrictions that limit outdoor gatherings to just 2,000 people.

Also weighing heavily on the party atmosphere are acts described by President Cyril Ramaphosa as having “the effects of subverting our constitutional democracy”.

“These acts include blatant acts of state (corruption) and criminality… the concerted campaign of public violence and destruction that took place in July last year, as well as ongoing theft, destruction, and obstruction of infrastructure,” Ramaphosa told party loyalists.

“This anniversary takes place just a few days after a devastating fire swept through our parliament in Cape Town.

“The entire country has been shocked, outraged, and saddened by the destruction because the institution of parliament is a repository of our democracy — and symbol of democratic stability of our people,” Ramaphosa said.

He added his government was “in the process of reforming our law enforcement agencies, our security sector so that it’s better positioned to defend the gains of our democracy”.

According to a report from AFP, a more than 800-page report containing nearly four years of testimonies collected by a judicial panel on graft was handed to Ramaphosa on Tuesday.

Ramaphosa declared in his speech Saturday that “those who are guilty of corruption, ill-discipline, factionalism and undermining our democracy find no home” in the ANC, adding the party had been guilty of ignoring “acts of indiscipline”.