UPDATED WITH GALLERY: Activists thrown out of Ramaphosa’s NDP lecture

by | Sep 11, 2013

  • SECOND LADY: Dr Tshepo Motsepe-Ramaphosa talking to commissioner Vuyokazi Mahlati. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • CHANGE: Deputy president of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, said much has changed since 1994 and more would change through the NDP. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • ANGRY: A miner who was handed the mic by a student who was concerned that Ramaphosa had not responded to miners. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • ENGAGING: Advocate George Bizos talking to a colleague before the lecture. Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi

  • UNSHAKEN: Although he was booed Ramaphosa joked that he liked the "whoos". Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • COMMISSIONED: Elias Masilela, a commissioner for the National Planning commission, stressed the importance of Entrepreneurship. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • MOVEMENT LEADERS: Trevor Ngwane, spokesperson for the Marikana Support Campaign and Claire Ceruti who was kicked out of the hall for disrupting the discussions. Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi

  • CALL-OUT: An audience member challenged the MC of the event as he tried to ask her to keep her questions short. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • COMMENT: Film and TV producer, Rehad Desai, who said having a rich man as the deputy president is terrible for South Africa. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • HECKLERS: Members of the Marikana Support Campaign were shouting during Ramaphosa's speech. They were later thrown out. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • SHAKE: During the lecture protesters started shaking their papers in disruption. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

  • RELENTLESS: The protesters came into the hall and continued to sing their songs of protest. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi

TEMPERS flared as activists and mine workers were thrown out of a lecture by African National Congress ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Wits Great Hall last night.

The activists and mine workers from the Marikana support campaign were disappointed that Ramaphosa did not address the Marikana massacre of 34 miners in his lecture. Last year, police shot and killed the mine workers in the North West province in an ongoing labour dispute.

Instead Ramaphosa spoke about the National Development Plan (NDP) which was adopted as a policy by government.

Outraged activists and mine workers 

The Marikana support campaign activists expressed their outrage at Ramaphosa for not talking about the government’s refusal to pay for legal representation of the mine workers at the official commission of inquiry.

Alfred Moyo, one of the activists, accused Ramaphosa of lying to people in his lecture.

“There is no there is no community participation in the NDP. He does not address anything about Marikana and miners’ challenges. They [government] have blood on their hands. We have South Africans living in informal settlements, we have no services.This talk is busy is total rubbish. He is here to lie to people,” Moyo told Wits Vuvuzela.

Claire Ceruti, activist with the Democratic Left Front was thrown out of the lecture for telling Ramaphosa that he has blood on his hands. Ceruti had previously protested against Trevor Manuel at the Ruth First Memorial Lecture in the same venue.

Ceruti said Ramaphosa tried to make himself look good by averting questions about Marikana, as she was expecting him to take responsibility.

“It’s disgusting that he sits there as someone who makes profits. These are the people who gave the go ahead for the trigger at the Marikana massacre. He defended the police for their actions, by sending emails to the police commissioner,” Ceruti said.

 

Marikana commission of inquiry 

Ramaphosa, speaking about the commission of inquiry said the story of Marikana still needs to be told and addressed fully.

“Many people feel the pain for Marikana. It’s deeply regretted,” he told the audience which were not convinced.

Ramaphosa was boo’ed throughout his speech by the activists. They also carried posters which read: “Don’t let the politicians get away with murder, Marikana support campaign.”

In response to the posters Ramaphosa said people with papers cannot distract those without papers. We must respect each other’s right to speak.”

 

Zooming in on the NDP

On the NDP Ramaphosa noted that South Africa’s economy does not serve the interest of people as it creates few jobs, skills levels are poor in the country and that inequality plagues society.

“The NDP serves as a vision to overcome key challenges; inequality which we have inherited, poverty and unemployment which also has roots in our past. The NDP is a plan that can deliver faster economic growth and inclusive growth. Ills are plentiful, there are many problems that beset the nation. The NDP provides pragmatic plan to transform the economy”.

The contentious plan has been rejected by trade unions, which claim the policy will not solve the country’s socio-economic issues.

[pullquote align=”right”]”Ramaphosa just came here to canvass. He just wants votes.”[/pullquote]

Ramaphosa said he welcomed debate around the NDP.

He added: “We are a nation of people who love to talk, we are noisy and robust, that is good. We would love to get full agreement, especially in our country. Those views need to be given a platform to be articulated. “There has been resistance to the NDP, which needs to be debated. Those who are criticising the plan need to engage with the plan. We all want what is best for our people and the country.”

Some members of the audience scoffed at his assertion that socio-economic change has occurred.

Socio-economic change?

Ramaphosa’s assertion that wages have increased since 1994 and that workers have won the right to strike did not bode well with mine workers in attendance.

A Lonmin Platinum miner who shot by police during wage disputes said Ramaphosa’s lecture was a campaign strategy for next year’s national elections. He refused to be named.

“Ramaphosa just came here to canvass. He just wants votes. There is no promises and change for poor people. He just bought a buffalo [which he placed a R20-million bid on and lost], he should have given the money to suffering people,” the mine worker said.

Ramaphosa said the NDP policy is not perfect. He added: “We will continue to engage. Where there are gaps, well work with society to fill the gaps. We need to implement the NDP.”

 

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