LETTER: Thabo Mbeki could be a better candidate as a returning president

Hajra Omarjee and Thando Maeko report that the ANC is facing an internal struggle over what it should do with President Cyril Ramaphosa following his almost-resignation and the investigation into the theft of large sums of very possibly illegal dollars from his farm (”ANC scrutiny leaves Ramaphosa nowhere to hide in days ahead,” December 5).

Former president Thabo Mbeki is right to lead the charge to hold Ramaphosa accountable. The rule of law must be upheld or else it signals to the country and the world that the law means nothing. If Ramaphosa is guilty of corruption he must be punished. He should have stepped down already for putting himself in a position that invites disrepute.

The ANC is, once again, tarnishing its own reputation by allowing its president to remain in office when he is quite possibly guilty of a crime or crimes. The party has missed the opportunity of letting Ramaphosa salvage his and their reputation by stepping down. Had he done so, the rule of law would have been respected and the ANC could have created an opportunity for a more responsible and sound leadership to take charge.

Mbeki himself could be a far better candidate as a returning president and possible coalition partner with a firm but fair DA. But the possibilities of a better ANC faction rising above Ramaphosa grows slimmer by the day.

What is clear is that the ANC doesn’t care about the rule of law and would rather fight the law and tarnish its own reputation than work towards a stable SA. Hopefully something changes soon, and a new, better ANC leader rises to the top to take over from an ineffectual and irresponsible Ramaphosa.

Nicholas Woode-Smith, Cape Town

JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.​