South Africa’s retired presidents are welcome to advise or even criticise current President Cyril Ramaphosa but there is a better way of delivering the message than to “shout from the roof tops,” Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has said.
Magwenya was addressing the media on Tuesday to respond to recent criticism which appeared coordinated coming from former presidents Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe at various fora over the weekend.
The trio accused Ramaphosa of corruption, treason and failing to uplift the country from its economic problems.
“To shout at President Ramaphosa from the roof tops does not in any shape or form aid any of these endeavours,” he said, adding that all the former presidents know how to contact him.
Magwenya said: “President Ramaphosa’s expectations of former presidents is that their presence is that of elders who are there to guide and support. Of course, they will criticise where they see fit and necessary from time to time.”
“However, it will be most appreciated if we could have constructive engagements that aim to build and contribute to the well-being of our country,” he added.
Defending Ramaphosa’s performance in office, Magwenya said there were notable achievements under his administration which included addressing youth unemployment and the energy crisis.
He said when Ramaphosa came into office he inherited “a state crippled through corruption, state capture and a stagnant economy.”
This, he said, was further marred by the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, increasing unemployment and poverty levels.
Despite all these challenges, Magwenya said Ramaphosa’s efforts “raised US$100 billion in new investment commitments through four South Africa investment conferences.”
He cited several development endeavours that the current president had undertaken, including US$1 billion of investment into black industrial businesses and youth employment, which has created more than one million jobs through the presidential employment stimulus programme.
NM/jn/APA