Prominent South African lawyer and former EFF national chairperson, Advocate Dali Mpofu, has ignited a heated debate following his comments about President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent apology to the residents of Alexandra and the South African public. Mpofu took to Twitter, stating, “We MUST accept Ramaphosa’s apology for LYING to the people of Alexandra & RSA,” sparking widespread controversy and further calls for Ramaphosa’s resignation.
Mpofu’s tweet highlighted several contentious issues surrounding the president, accusing him of dishonesty not only about his failure to address Alexandra’s living conditions but also in connection with previous scandals, including the 2012 Marikana Massacre, the Phala Phala farm scandal, and Ramaphosa’s role in the DA/ANC coalition government.
Ramaphosa’s apology came after public outrage over the lack of progress in Alexandra, a township he visited in 2019, where he had promised to improve the living conditions of its residents. In his recent apology, he acknowledged the government’s failure to meet the expectations of Alexandra’s people. However, Mpofu was not satisfied, using the opportunity to bring up other significant controversies linked to Ramaphosa.
Mpofu referenced the Marikana Massacre, a tragic event in 2012 where 34 striking miners were shot dead by police. At the time, Ramaphosa was a non-executive director at Lonmin, the mining company at the center of the strike, and his involvement in the events leading up to the massacre has been a subject of debate. Ramaphosa has previously expressed remorse, stating that the massacre continues to haunt him, but critics like Mpofu have continued to hold him accountable for his role in the tragedy.
Mpofu also raised the issue of the Phala Phala farm scandal, in which large sums of foreign currency were stolen from Ramaphosa’s property. The lack of transparency surrounding the origin of the funds and the president’s handling of the incident has drawn significant criticism, with opposition figures like Mpofu using it to question Ramaphosa’s integrity and financial conduct.
Adding to his critique, Mpofu also addressed Ramaphosa’s use of the term “GNU” (Government of National Unity) to describe the DA/ANC coalition government. He criticized the president’s choice of words, arguing that the term is traditionally used to describe power-sharing agreements formed after conflicts and is inappropriate for the current political landscape. This, according to Mpofu, is yet another example of Ramaphosa misleading the public.
Mpofu’s harsh critique of Ramaphosa’s leadership has further fueled the political discourse in South Africa, where calls for greater accountability and transparency are mounting. As public discontent grows, many are awaiting Ramaphosa’s response to the rising demand for clarity on these issues and whether he will address Mpofu’s calls for him to step down.