Ramaphosa voices support for Gordhan

Ramaphosa was addressing the funeral of former sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile on Thursday.

Gordhan was among the mourners. 

The minister was ordered by the Hawks to report to the unit's Pretoria offices today for a warning statement, but refused - saying he had no legal obligation to present himself as he's not facing criminal charges. 

Ramaphosa said government should be concerned about, what he referred to as, Gordhan's possible arrest.

"Whatever various agencies of government have to do, we should do it in a way that does not destabilise government, that does not destabilise our economy and does not demonstrate to our people that we are a government that is at war with itself," he said.

Elections

Ramaphosa added that the ANC needed to go beyond just saying it takes collective responsibility for losing big metro's following the local government elections. 

Ramaphosa said he takes personal and individual responsibility as the Deputy President. 

He said in the weeks before Stofile's passing, he expressed a concern that the ANC may lose Nelson Mandela Bay and other key Metros. 

"His concern was almost prophetic. As the results of the elections came in his fears were indeed confirmed. We must recognise as he did that unless the African National Congress acts with urgency and determination to correct the flaws that run through the organisation to address our weaknesses we place many of the gains of our democratic revolution at risk", he said. 

Ramaphosa said this is the moment for the ANC not only to feel the pulse of the movement, but to listen to what ANC members are saying.