Ramaphosa rubbishes claims he had an ulterior motive for his 26 May speech
The DA said that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech was a thinly veiled political campaign which violated the electoral code of conduct.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on the appointment of the new National Executive of the 7th Democratic Administration held at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria 30 June 2024. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has rubbished claims that his May 26th speech was delivered with an ulterior motive, saying it was aimed at assuring the public about peaceful elections.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says Ramaphosa’s speech was a thinly veiled political campaign that violated the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Arguments for the matter are currently underway at the Electoral Court sitting at the Johannesburg High Court.
Representative for the DA, Advocate Anthony Stein, claimed there were parts of Ramaphosa’s speech that were presidential and others that were political.
In his answering affidavit, Ramaphosa said it was important for him to address the nation ahead of the elections.
Ramaphosa said that his speech was informed by meetings he had with the security cluster, which assured him measures were in place to ensure the elections were free and fair.
The president said that his speech was neutral and he never once mentioned his political party, the African National Congress (ANC).
Ramaphosa said that he told the country of the achievements and challenges of his administration.
He said that he did not mention how he would fix the challenges as that would have been a political assumption that he was returning to office.
Is this the first relationship crack in the GNU?
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 25, 2024
Today, the DA and President Cyril Ramaphosa are facing off at the Electoral Court.
It relates to Ramaphosa’s 26 May speech which the DA said violated the Electoral Code of Conduct and was an abuse of state resources. TCG pic.twitter.com/141r9obizR