Ramaphosa flip-flops: President says clean audits don’t equal good governance after praising DA
President Ramaphosa's remarks on DA municipalities spark political debate.
Image: Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed the controversy over his remarks praising DA-run municipalities for their clean audits, claiming that the remarks were based on the Auditor-General (AG) reports emphasising solid financial management in the Western Cape.
Talking to the SABC, he said that he simply cited what Tsakani Maluleke has said publicly.
"When I spoke about what we need to do, I referred to her reports which she issues every year...She looks at all our municipalities and, in some areas, she has found clean audits," Ramaphosa said.
Municipalities in the Western Cape have clean audits according to the AG, he continued.
"But clean audits do not mean clean streets, best governance. It's a compliancy issue. There are a number of ANC-run municipalities that have clean audits. We need to look at this issue in a comprehensive way."
The president took a jab at the DA who took his comments and ran with them. "From a transformative point of view, they are not meeting the mark. And a number of ANC municipalities do. People in areas such as Philippi, Delf, Kayamandi and Langa would tell you that those clean audits have not resulted in the transformation of their lives," he said.
His initial comments brought out claims of his endorsement of the John Steenhuisen-led party. "The DA gets things done," the party posted on social media.
Chairperson of the Federal Council of the DA, Helen Zille also shared an AI-generated image of Ramaphosa peering at her paper in a classroom.
The National Convener the EFF Youth Command, Sihle Lonzi accused Ramaphosa of only focusing on the affluent areas of the Western Cape.
"Cyril Ramaphosa says the DA governs better in Cape Town and Stellenbosch because when he goes there, he does not set foot in the Townships and Cape Flats, which have become death zones. He drives his Blue Lights from Parliament to Rupert's vineyards, to his mansion in Camps Bay."
Controversial podcaster, Penuel Mlotshwa claimed that Ramaphosa was sent to usher in the ANC's demise.
"He was sent to defund and privatize as many SOEs as possible. To usher in a transition where the country is handed over to the DA and other capital-favoured parties.
"The Oppenheimers will continue to run South Africa for a long time, on behalf of the Rothschilds and American capital. Black political leaders have no interest in serving the masses. Only in making money for themselves at whatever cost," Mlotshwa said.
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