The lawyer spoke to a journalist who visited him in his White River home.
ANC presidential contender Mathews Phosa has dismissed claims that himself and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa are in the pockets of Afrikaners and Jews.
He said this suggestion is “superficial nonsense” and a “politics of the ignoramus”.
Phosa spoke to City Press journalist Setumo Stone in his house in White River.
“What do I have to do with Afrikaners?” Phosa asked.
He said excelling in Afrikaans at school and writing in Afrikaans as well as being President of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut doesn’t mean he was in the pocket of Afrikaners.
The election to lead the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut was a move blessed by the late President Nelson Mandela.
“The ANC embraced the move, describing it as a breakthrough for national unity and non-racialism,” Phosa told Stone.
“I will defend Cyril because I know him. We come from university together, we were in the same classroom. I have never known him to be a puppet of the Jews,” Phosa said.
“We have known each other for many years. I know his first girlfriend and he knows mine,” he said of Ramaphosa.
Phosa, Ramaphosa, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Jeff Radebe, Zweli Mkhize, Lindiwe Sisulu and Baleka Mbete are all gunning for the ANC presidency.
Phosa said he is currently receiving more nominations in the Eastern Cape ANC BGMs than anywhere else.
SEE ALSO: Western Cape ANC wants Phosa as President
ALSO RELATED: Mabuza shoots down Phosa’s nomination
“I’m getting more nominations from Eastern Cape. It is amazing,” Phosa said as he showed Stone an sms from an Eastern Cape organiser confirming branches are doing okay.
(edited by MLM)
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