South African History Online

21 May 1992

Recent reports in the media have fuelled speculation to the effect that a
cabal have seized control of the African National Congress and are transforming
it to their own purposes. These allegations have further insinuated that Comrade
Cyril Ramaphosa heads this group.

I categorically repudiate these allegations and insinuations as malicious
lies, invented by persons with dubious motives. It is a matter of record, with
which both the media and the purveyors of these slanders are conversant, that
all the members of the National Executive Committee of the ANC were elected in a
national conference by secret ballot. No person holds office in the ANC except
by the will of the majority of the membership, at branch, regional or national
level. This applies to Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa as it does to every other member
of our leadership bodies. I place it on record that Comrade Cyril enjoys my
fullest confidence as the Secretary-General of the ANC and I reject any
innuendos that call into question his integrity or his competence.

Much as I appreciate the depth of feeling of those who are making these
allegations, I would admonish them to consider the impact of their statements
and innuendos. They have already conveyed the false impression that the ANC is
an organisation riven with tensions and factions. This is a disservice to the
organisation they claim allegiance to and serves to undermine public confidence
in its capacity to provide leadership to our people and our country.

Issued by: The Department of Information and Publicity,
P.O. Box
61884,
Marshalltown 2107,
Johannesburg.