President Cyril Ramaphosa says he does not agree with allegations that his controversial statement on ethnic mobilisation was behind the July 2021 riots.
He says he understands why the statement he made in July last year was controversial and might have caused ill-feelings in the country.
Ramaphosa says he corrected this and publicly said that the information he got about the causes of the riots did not support his point that the unrest was instigated along ethnic lines.
He says like all South Africans he was following the news, comments and posts on social media.
Opening statement by President @CyrilRamaphosa before the @SAHRCommission Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 Unrest. https://t.co/M49y7sWkxJ#SAHRCJulyUnrestHearing #JulyUnrestHearing pic.twitter.com/FCb9iFbOMq
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) April 1, 2022
He says, “Like millions of South Africans, I also followed the many conversations, watched the video clips and listened to the audio recordings being disseminated. The conversations and hashtags in circulation at the time saying things like “#CyrilMustResign or #CyrilMustGo” are all expressions of the right to free speech enshrined in our Constitution.”
“But I, like millions of South Africans, have bitter memories of our past, where tribalism and ethnic chauvinism were used to promote hatred, and to divide. It is a time I never wish to see recur…That is also why hearing testimony on Day 4 of these hearings by Ms Melanie Veness, the CEO of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business about graffiti sprayed across a truck in Pietermaritzburg depicting the words ‘Ramaphosa must go back to Venda’ hit a particular nerve.”
Tribalism
He adds that those words concerned him greatly that tribalism, something the founders the ANC, sought to obliterate from the South African political and social landscape, was in this instance rearing its ugly head.
Ramaphosa says, “Of course, it has been proven that this sentiment was and is not shared by the majority of the South African people. This is something I have acknowledged repeatedly, and will do so here again. What I do not agree with, however, is the allegation made in complaints received by this Commission that what I said could have led to the escalation of the violence and looting.”
He says a proper reading of his statements over those days, the chronology of when they were made, and an examination of the events that took place clearly show this cannot be plausible.
Below is Ramaphosa’s opening statement:
President @CyrilRamaphosa and First Lady of the Republic, Dr Tshepo Motsepe received by @SAHRCommission CEO Tseliso Thipanyane; SAHRC Commissioners and Evidence Leaders; @PresidencyZA Minister @MondliGungubel_ and @PresidencyZA Director-General, Ms Phindile Baleni pic.twitter.com/Tb7X1ApIyA
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) April 1, 2022
