It takes a strong person to pursue a career in politics. Faced with constant criticism and opposition, to be in the public eye requires fortitude and resiliency.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the president, has experienced his portion of scandals and public humiliations, before the Phala Phala farmgate incident, which led to calls for his resignation from ANC members, IOL reports.
Following are four controversies that President Ramaphosa’s political career has been shaken by:
The Deadly Marikana Massacre: The Scandals Begin
At the Lonmin mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, on the afternoon of August 16, 2012, 34 miners were allegedly shot and killed by the police as they participated in a wage strike.
Ramaphosa, who was the mine’s director at the time, is accused of having caused this by emailing the former police minister Nathi Mthethwa to demand “concomitant” action against the miners in retaliation.
The infamous ‘cupcake’ saga (before Phala Phala)
So where did one such “nickname” originate? Social media users frequently call Ramaphosa “Cupcake.”
President Ramaphosa is accused of referring to the woman he is alleged to be having an affair with as a “cupcake” in a leaked email.
When the ANC member ran for president in 2017, this was brought to light. It is obvious that the phrase has stuck.
Bank Records in CR17 Scandal
Using CR17 campaign funds for self-benefit was alleged to have been done by the president. The CR17 bank statements were sealed until the EFF filed a petition with the Gauteng High Court in March 2021 to have them released.
Ramaphosa allegedly benefited directly from campaign donations, according to former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
“His motivation was to advance personally rather than for the benefit of the party, the official party structure, the party-political campaign, or any other person. It was all about him in the CR17 campaign “remarked Mogoeng.
Being charged with being a sellout for apartheid
At the 2019 State of the Nation Address, Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota accused President Cyril of turning on leaders of the civil rights movement to the apartheid Special Branch in the 1970s.
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#RamaphosaSoldOut started to trend on Twitter as a result. To these allegations, the president responded.
He told Parliament that when he was imprisoned in 1974, the security police wanted him to testify against Black Consciousness leaders.
