It’s clear as mud until president speaks for himself

WHEN first hinted at President Cyril Ramaphosa quitting, it was clear that he had spoken.

This is the stuff by which scoops are madde of: be the first, and getting it right.

But has the source of getting things right from the beginning, the president, always been there and accessible to answer for himself?

Cyril Ramaphosa became ANC president on December 17, 2018, and was elected fifth president of South Africa on February 18, 2018.

Covid-19 broke out in China October 2019. In response South Africa declared a National state of disaster on March 26, 2020.

Periodic updates that came into play occurred within lockdown rules which practically allowed for the president to deliver his addresses, later known as family meetings, and endmedia conferences without questions.

This being Covid era, this cue was taken from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The global vaccination programme has yet to face up to consequences of what was put in people’s bodies. For its part, Pfizer has bailed out of the European Parliament without answers, explanation or accountability.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has not mustered the courage for availability to account. Nor has the rest of Big Pharma.

Ramaphosa’s Covid-19 family meetings tended to become his public media engagement style.

By nature, design or accident, so did his accessibility by way of media public engagement get shaped. Front women and speakers on his behalf became Zweli Mkhize (until the Digital Vibes incident), Jackson Mthembu (until his passing), Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (until the lifting of Covid restrictions), Mondli Gungubele currently in the Presidency and Vincent Magwenya as presidential spokesperson after Khusela Diko.

This style of media engagement has continued long after the lockdown regulations were lifted. The country has become used to it. The fault though did not lie with Ramaphosa but the media for getting accustomed to a practice of message delivery and the retiring of direct questions immediately thereafter.

The man never speaks for himself. Besides his bold response at the ANC’S January 8 2022 statement rally saying money found at his farm was proceeds of animal sales, Ramaphosa has not been directly available on the issue.

The rest he thought should better be left to multiple agencies to whom the matter got deposited until respective instalments of findings are made. The Ngcobo report came first.

The president has not spoken. He is spoken for. Those that said he is going are also saying not only is not going but also fighting back.

The “people” are “the media”. And “the media” are those billed as conduits of the fortunes.

Good or bad, from past indications it will be clear when the president talks for himself which he rarely does as he is often spoken for.

The outrage and emotions swirl around him while he keeps a deep dignified silence for storms to calm in favour of his survival to present.

In the main the media never crosses the line of the established plan to access him directly to put spotlight on him to explain himself independent of spokespersons in and outside party and government.

The media speaks on his behalf, with some leading all the way, in an updated fashion to tell the public of what those around him say, may or may not be happening around him.

At the centre of this are careers of the affected that thrust messages that should surge forth, crossing their fingers safely behind, out of scrutiny, while the country watching can wait until interests that matter most are assured of which way to go for continued comfort of winners and discomfort of losers. It is not about the people and what people deserve. It is about them on either side of the nail-biting spinning wheel of fortunes in which the political life of the president spins.

The president is still alive and kicking to speak for himself. The nation awaits his unmediated voice directly from his lips.