South Africa’s president slams ‘shameful’ chair-throwing politicians
President Cyril Ramaphosa reprimanded the brawling politicians at the African National Congress meeting, describing their behavior as shameful
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa slammed the brawling politicians at a 2017 political gathering
At least eight people were injured when violence erupted at an ANC conference centre in East London back in 2017 that had members of the African National Congress hurling chairs across the room.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, slammed the brawling politicians, describing their behavior as shameful, BBC reported.
“I saw chairs flying—a festival of chairs…it’s something we must be deeply ashamed about,” he said at the close of an African National Congress meeting in Eastern Cape province in October 2017.
The ANC was set to choose a new leader in December, fueling party tensions. Ramaphosa was one of the front-runners to replace former President Jacob Zuma. He was eventually elected the fifth and current President of South Africa following Zuma’s resignation.
Rival factions fought for control of the party and state resources, and fears that violence could escalate came to a head at the conference when a rival faction was unsuccessful in their attempts to get the High Court to declare the conference unlawful.
When Ramaphosa took to the stage, he told delegates not to call on the courts or resort to violence to resolve ANC problems.
“Right now we are going through difficult moments as ANC. The December conference stands out as the beacon of hope where we will renew the ANC and unite the ANC,” South Africa’s Mail and Guardian paper quoted Ramaphosa as saying.
“We cannot allow violence to be [utilized] as a way of resolving our problems. This is what brings ANC into disrepute. Those great leaders of our movement always found time to sit down and address differences that may have arisen amongst them.”
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At the time, Ramaphosa’s main rival in for leadership was Zuma’s ex-wife and former African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, according to nehandaradio.com.
Ramaphosa served as the Deputy President of South Africa from 2014 to 2018. He was elected President of the African National Congress in December 2017.
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