Gungubele and Phaahla firmly deny conspiracy claims against Ramaphosa
Deputy minister of Health Joe Phaahla has distanced himself from allegations of spearheading a plot to topple President Cyril Ramaphosa as talks of ANC succession battle resurfaces.
Image: Picture: Oupa Mokoena/African News Agency (ANA)
ANC leaders Mondli Gungubele and Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla, have vehemently denied allegations that they are planning to overthrow ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Both members issued separate statements on Monday evening, distancing themselves from the alleged plot.
The denials come as reports of a renewed plot by some "disgruntled" ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) members to remove Ramaphosa have surfaced, just days before the party's National General Council (NGC) meeting. The NGC is scheduled for next Monday, December 8-12, at the Birchwood Hotel.
The statements from Phaahla and Gungubele followed closely after three key ANC structures —the Youth, Women's, and Veterans' Leagues — each released statements publicly backing Ramaphosa's leadership amid the circulating rumours of his removal.
Gungubele dismissed the allegations on his X account, stating: "A suggestion that I am part of a movement to remove the current president of the ANC needs the best possible psychiatric assessment. Because it must be part of sickness to assert falsehood at all costs."
Phaahla issued a detailed statement, branding the reports of his involvement as "baseless" and "absurd."
He asserted: "I regard the claims that I am plotting to oust President Cyril Ramaphosa as utter rubbish and pure hogwash. In fact, I lack adjectives to adequately describe their absurdity. These fabrications are the work of desperate individuals, attempting to drive a wedge between me, as an ANC NEC member and lifelong activist of the African National Congress for nearly five decades, and my president."
New talks of a plot to remove Ramaphosa have been met with resistance with ANC leaders Dr Joe Phaahla and Mondli Gungubele having distanced themselves from their alleged involvement in these plans.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula addressed the succession debate during the NGC state-of-readiness briefing, insisting the upcoming meeting will not focus on leadership struggles.
He stressed that there is "no leadership struggle in the ANC".
Mbalula explained that the party will not allow itself to be distracted by succession debates while facing an "existential crisis".
He stated the party's focus is on hosting a successful NGC, with the leadership discussion only scheduled for the 2027 elective conference.
"We are closing ranks with all our members. These are stories that are planted deliberately by forces within and outside our movement, who are hellbent on disintegrating the ANC. These forces are not sleeping. They are working overtime to disintegrate the ANC," Mbalula concluded.
Attempts to obtain comment from the ANC regarding the statements by Gungubele and Phaahla were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
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