By Neelam Rahim

Radio Islam speaks to President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwanya who has served in communication roles in the public and private sectors. Vincent had a tough start to a new position amidst the burglary reports at Ramaphosa’s farm.

Not new to the presidential spokesperson position, Vincent has served as former President Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson, served as one of the director of communications for Standard Bank Africa and was CEO of a PR Agency.

Vincent says, “While this role is not new to me, observing how times have changed is interesting. At the time of working in former President Zuma’s office, the proliferation of social media did not move at a rapid pace as it does today. It’s interesting to observe how the environment has changed in different areas.”

“At this stage, I will not share any further information about the robbery that has been communicated in various issued statements. Purely out of respect for the possible investigation that is likely to occur. We don’t know when that will happen as the President still awaits some notification from the South African Police Service concerning the commencement of their investigation,” says Magwenya.

The opposition Parties have requested the step down of the President while the investigation is underway.

Vincent says, “The President will not step down as he has not been charged with any crime. A criminal complaint has been instituted with the South African Police Service, but as far as specific charges relating to the President have not happened, so I’m not quite sure how the logic of steeping aside will apply in this case when he has not been charged with any crime yet.”

The President’s Director General Phindile Baleni has received death threats in the form of a letter and a bullet in the letter box at her home.

“We don’t know the reasons for the death threat. All we have is that letter that seems to insinuate that the President needs to abandon the implementation of the recommendations coming out of judge Zondo’s commission. We view it as an attempt to intimidate the President’s office from carrying out its constitutionally mandated duty. Still, more so there seems to be an insinuation that the President needs to abandon his fight against corruption which he is not going to do,” says Vincent.