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Africa

South Africa's deputy president criticizes corruption

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE -- In this Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 file photo, South African President Jacob Zuma, right, alongside deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, left, outside parliament at the State of the Nation address in Cape Town, South Africa. Ramaphosa this weekend called for his countrymen to get rid of "greedy" and "corrupt" people, in remarks seen as an attack on Zuma. Ramaphosa was speaking after Zuma fired widely respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle last week in which he purged other political opponents. (AP Photo/Nic Bothma, Pool, File) (The Associated Press)

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    South Africa's speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete speaks at a news briefing in Johannesburg, Sunday April 2, 2017. Mbete said she is considering an emergency motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma after he fired the country's widely respected finance minister last week. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell) (The Associated Press)

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa called for his countrymen to get rid of "greedy" and "corrupt" people, in remarks seen as an attack on President Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa was speaking after Jacob Zuma fired widely respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle last week in which he purged other political opponents.

"What you are required to do as citizens of this country is to support the efforts that are going to be made by those that are going to make sure that our country lives up to values of Nelson Mandela," Ramaphosa said in KwaZulu-Natal province over the weekend. His speech was broadcast on the local radio station EWN on Monday morning. "Be in support of those who will be leading that charge. Because a moment of great renewal is upon us and we should not let it go by," said Ramaphosa.

Since Zuma sacked Gordhan on Friday, concerns over corruption in the government are blamed for a fall in the value of the currency of South Africa, one of Africa's most industrialized economies.

Gordhan was seen as a bulwark against corruption. His sacking set off an outcry by anti-Zuma factions in the ruling African National Congress and opposition parties.

Economists say it is likely that South Africa, which saw economic growth of just 0.5 percent last year and has an unemployment rate of around 27 percent, will be downgraded to junk status by credit ratings agencies.

Calls have been growing for Zuma to step down since August last year when the ANC lost control of key metropolitan areas in local elections, partly because of dissatisfaction with the president's performance.

"Let us act together in unity," said Ramaphosa. "Unite our country, unite our movement under one goal. The goal of making South Africa great. The goal of making South Africa corruption free. The goal of making South Africa a South Africa we can all be proud of and getting rid of greedy people, corrupt people within our country."

South Africa's speaker of parliament said on Sunday that she is considering an emergency motion of no confidence against Zuma. Baleka Mbete said her office received a letter from the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, requesting that the national assembly, which is in recess until May 10, resume earlier to vote on the motion.

Although the ANC's reputation as the main movement against apartheid has been tainted by corruption allegations, it is still seen as the front-runner ahead of general elections in 2019.