“THE president has not been charged with any crime. There are investigations taking place.”
These were the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman, Vincent Magwenya during a media briefing in Tshwane on Sunday, 13 November.
“The constitutionally-enshrined presumption of innocence until proven guilty still remains,” he said.
The presidency has started weekly briefings on an interactive platform where Magwenya will provide an update on the president’s programme for the week ahead and address issues brought up by the public and media.
Answering questions from the media, Magwenya said it should be asked what informed calls from some quarters for the president to step aside. He said if Ramaphosa was charged, he would gladly step aside.
“As it stands, the president has not been charged. What you have is a series of investigations in which he is fully co-operating and will continue to do so until the investigations are concluded,” he said.
Speaking about the relationship between Ramaphosa and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, he said there was no problem and their relationship was professional.
This came after Sisulu called for Ramaphosa to step aside because of the Phala Phala scandal, which has been hanging over him since June.
Magwenya said Sisulu was in Ramaphosa’s cabinet and in this regard, there was no issue.
He said there had been reports that there was instability in the cabinet, but he was not aware of this instability.
“There is co-operation and I’m not sure where the report that there is instability comes from. In terms of facts, there is a necessary cordial, professional relationship between the president and his working cabinet,” said Magwenya.
