NUM has come out in support of deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma.
General secretary David Sipunzi said: “Ramaphosa is the most suitable candidate because he has already been groomed for the position. It won’t be wise to get a completely new person to succeed President Zuma. Yes, the leadership of the ANC is elected at party conferences but as workers, we have a vested interest in who leads the ANC.”
Speaking at the union’s headquarters in Joburg after the National Executive Committee meeting yesterday, Sipunzi said those who thought they alone had the right to lobby must start thinking otherwise.
He said it was unfortunate that those who oppose the views of the ANC on succession are told they suffer from verbal diarrhoea.
He said NUM was not the only union in Cosatu supporting Ramaphosa for president. Sipunzi said the union’s central committee took the decision to support Ramaphosa early in June.
“This is not only based on the tradition of the ANC but also on the suitability of the candidate. We firmly believe debates on this issue should be organisational and people must stop swearing at others, as it only serves to show how intolerant we are,” said Sipunzi.
He said unlike others, NUM believed Zuma should serve his whole term so South Africa was not seen as a banana republic where presidents are removed from office.
Speaking about the stand-off between Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and the Hawks, he said if the minister was innocent, he should co-operate.
