President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that narrow agendas will not distract him or his presidency amid calls for him to come clean about the theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa was responding to a debate on the Presidency budget in the National Assembly. During the debate, he faced calls to take the country into his confidence and address the Phala Phala matter.
Instead, the president called on political parties to work together to resolve the country’s many problems. He said that while parties have differed on politics and policy, there is broad agreement on urgent matters facing the country.
Ramaphosa said South Africans want solutions to problems like unemployment and slow economic growth. He said they expect leadership, accountability and results.
He added that political noise will not deter him and that he will not be distracted by narrow agendas that have nothing to do with the interests of the South African people.
Ramaphosa also noted positive reforms, including the revival of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and Transnet, which were once embroiled in State capture.