The ANC’s top leadership will engage with corruption-accused former president Jacob Zuma, and the message will be clear and straightforward: “Let us all abide by our Constitution, respect our institutions, particularly the judiciary,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa fielded questions from the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) on Friday afternoon, with the first question asked being his predecessor’s defiance of the Constitutional Court and accompanying allegations that judges received money from the CR17-campaign.

On Thursday, The Witness reported that a proposed meeting between the ANC top six and Zuma had been shelved as Zuma refuses to be engaged on the matter.

Ramaphosa said there are, “… quite a number of engagements”, with Zuma.

“And one of those is an engagement that he is going to have with the top leadership of the ANC, which should be happening any day soon,” he said.

“He’s agreed to it, we’ve all agreed to it, that we are going to engage with him. He is a member, and a disciplined member of the African National Congress, and we will be able to have an engagement with him.

“And the message will be fairly simple and straightforward: Let us all abide by our Constitution, respect our institutions, particularly the judiciary.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa, during a Q&A session with the South Africa National Editors Forum defended Police Minister Bheki Cele’s visit to Nkandla.

Ramaphosa said for him the important thing is to insist that everyone abide by the rule of law and the Constitution.

“So there is no backing down as far as that is concerned.”

Responding to Zuma’s unsubstantiated accusations against the judiciary, which were also repeated by EFF leader Julius Malema, Ramaphosa said he made his position very clear in his newsletter this week.

He said if there is any evidence against a judge, it must be put before the relevant bodies, like the Judicial Service Commission.  

“Those who just throw accusations at judges, demean our Constitution, our democracy, and indeed, our nation.

“Judges are not above the law, no one is above the law. All of us as South Africans, from the president to any citizen of our country, must abide by the law, by the Constitution. Because if we don’t, then there is lawlessness in our country.”

Ramaphosa denied Police Minister Bheki Cele’s recent visit to Zuma was problematic.

He said Cele felt compelled to have a “heart-to-heart” discussion with Zuma, with whom he had a longstanding relationship.

He said all that was discussed was Zuma’s “situation” regarding not appearing before the Zondo Commission.

In his opening remarks, Ramaphosa said the fight against corruption is gaining momentum.

“I would say it is unstoppable,” he said.

-News24