Zuma Foundation Chides Ramaphosa Over “Reckless And Divisive Comments”

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has vowed to approach the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to report President Cyril Ramaphosa over what it considers “reckless, divisive and unsubstantiated” allegations about ethnic-based mobilisation.

Over the past few days, South Africa, especially KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), former president Jacob Zuma’s home province, has been rocked by violent protests and looting.

The riots are in response to Zuma’s jailing after he was found guilty of contempt of court by the country’s Constitutional Court.

During his address to the nation on Sunday, Ramaphosa condemned the ongoing sporadic protests in parts of South Africa. He said:

It is a matter of concern to all South Africans that some of these acts of violence are based on ethnic mobilisation.

This must be condemned by all South Africans at all costs as we are a nation committed to non-racialism and non-tribalism that is underpinned by the diversity and unity of all the people of South Africa, whatever their language, culture, religious beliefs and race.

Ramaphosa’s remarks did not go down well with the Zuma Foundation, which expressed its displeasure on Twitter. It said in a post:

The Foundation will approach the [South African Human Rights Commission] tomorrow to report [President] Ramaphosa for his reckless, divisive and unsubstantiated allegations about ethnic-based mobilisation. Where is his evidence that these country-wide protests are ethnic-based?

Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court by the Constitutional Court and was sentenced to 15 months of direct imprisonment.

The violent protests erupted days after Zuma began serving his sentence at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.