Ramaphosa admit riots were not ‘ethnic mobilisation’

Ramaphosa conducted an oversight visit in KwaMashu, north of Durban on Friday.

The president is in KwaZulu-Natal to assess the impact of the recent violence and looting.

Ramaphosa had previously slammed the violence, which were sparked by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, as being driven by ethnic mobilisation.

But the president has now changed his tune.

“When we looked and listened to what was being said in voicemails there were suggestions that some of the instigators were using terms that appeared to be ethnic mobilisation. Later, we then analysed the situation with all our leaders and we came to the conclusion that this is not about ethnic mobilisation, even though at the beginning it appeared to be like that,” Ramaphosa said.

“Right now we are dealing with a situation that goes beyond ethnic mobilisation, but we are also concerned about the racial aspect of it.

“But I also have said that the criticisms against even me for having suggested ethnic mobilisation I see it in a positive light, because it means that as South Africans we are disavowing any notion of ethnic mobilisation. We are united.”

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