Ramaphosa must go, says MK Party

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) will not form any coalition with the ANC – as long as Cyril Ramaphosa remains party president. Simply put, the party is calling on Ramaphosa to step down immediately.

This was reiterated by MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, who spoke to IOL.

“Let us be clear, we want Ramaphosa to go. We are speaking to the ANC and we met with them today, but it’s not the ANC of Ramaphosa. The ANC knows what it needs to do to save this country, and that is to ensure he steps down. There are those within the ANC who don’t want him to go because they are protecting their own interests, but there is an overwhelming consensus from key ANC leaders that he needs to go in the interests of the country,” says MK spokesperson Ndhlela.

His comments come as the Democratic Alliance (DA) has made it clear it will not join the ANC’s proposed Government of National Unity (GNU) if the MK, EFF or the Patriotic Alliance were part of it.

Both the EFF and the MK have repeatedly said they would not work with the DA while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has agreed to join the GNU which includes the ANC and DA. The IFP and the DA currently co-govern several municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal.

This leaves the ANC – still the biggest party despite its reduced majority, having to choose. Either a coalition with the DA without the MK and EFF or a broad-based black pact without the DA.

But, even without the DA, there are several tough hurdles that will need to be crossed before the finish line of a GNU. These include the EFF’s demand of the Finance portfolio, role of parliamentary speaker amongst other demands.

Nhlamulo said the party was confident of a resolution, if those within the ANC acted on what needed to be done to move the country forward.

Asked about comments from ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, that Ramaphosa would not be leaving the party, Nhlamulo replied: “Fikile has ambitions of being the president of the ANC, what he says publicly and what he does behind the scenes is another thing. Those wanting Ramaphosa gone outweigh those who want him to remain. But if the ANC decides to go into any coalition involving the DA, that would be the end of the ANC. Thats a guarantee.”