By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Presidency has dismissed rumours making the rounds on social media about the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s health.
Ramaphosa was supposed to attend a church service at Church on the Hill in Mbombela, He couldnt make it.
However Deputy President Paul Mashatile stood in for Ramaphosa, who’s said to have to attend to an urgent national matter.
ANC spokeswoman, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri told the media earlier on Sunday that Ramaphosa had to attend to an emergency.
The ANC’s NEC held its first ordinary meeting for the year ahead of its 112th birthday on Monday.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said there’s no truth to the rumours to the president’s ill health.
“A malicious rumour has been doing the rounds about the President’s health and that he has been hospitalised.
“I spoke to him this morning, the President is fine, he was never hospitalised, and there w,as no emergency. He attended a meeting and decided to spend the rest of the day at home ahead of a busy week,” Magwenya said.
Mashatile meanwhile has asked for prayers for the organisation as it prepares for a difficult pre-election period ahead of the looming 2024 general polls.
He led a delegation of ANC leaders who visited different churches in Mpumalanga on Sunday morning.
Mashatile said the party needs prayers to counter its many enemies. He also told the church the ANC will never fall.
This speaks to the ANC’s genesis story – which can be traced to a church in the heart of Bloemfontein.
Mashatile said the enemies of the ANC are many, but insisted theirs is a house built on a strong foundation and will weather the storm.
Members of the media were enquired if the ANC NEC had possibly taken a decision against Jacob Zuma for his support of the Umkhonto weSizwe party (MK).
“In terms of my own speech, I have said our house is still standing for 112 years because it is built on a strong foundation. I said like any family, you have family members who behave in a particular way, others will want to break window and others kick the doors.
“But there are those of us who are rebuilding, renewing and this house will never fall and I meant the ANC, “Mashatile said.
He added that the outcomes of the NEC will be conveyed by secretary general Fikile Mbalula.
The president is expected to lead a wreath-laying ceremony at Louisville Cemetery on Monday, 8 January and also have breakfast with struggle icon families at Mbombela Stadium.