The disguise isn’t fooling anyone’ – Ramaphosa slammed for turning presidential address into election campaign

BOSA

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Sunday, two days before the elections, has been criticised as a campaign pitch disguised as a presidential address.

In his speech, Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to vote, highlighted the significance of the upcoming elections, and reflected on his administration’s achievements and challenges.

He praised the IEC’s preparations, addressed concerns over electoral obstructions in KwaZulu-Natal, and emphasised the nation’s recovery from corruption and state capture.

“You used state resources to campaign for yourself and your party. This was a serious abuse of power,” leader of Build One South Africa, Mmusi Maimane said in X.

“Cyril Ramaphosa commandeered the national television channels tonight to give a last-ditch campaign speech, disguised as a presidential “address to the nation.” The disguise isn’t fooling anyone,” said Geoffrey York, the Africa correspondent for The Globe and Mail.

“Has the President breached s 9(2) of the Electoral Code of Conduct by abusing his position as President to “address the nation” via the state broadcaster with an election speech?

“He has had SONA, and party events (which are covered thoroughly by the media) to say these things,” wrote independent election analyst Michael Atkins.

Despite accusations of abusing presidential power, Ramaphosa called for national unity and adherence to democratic principles.

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Picture: Facebook/ Mmusi Maimane

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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