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Cyril Ramaphosa

CAPE TOWN. — Racial tension is apparently threatening to scupper Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign to become the next ANC leader.

The Sunday Times reported at the weekend that all the members of Ramaphosa’s campaign management team responsible for finances and fundraising are white.

They are reportedly “gatekeepers” who are frustrating other members of the campaign to such an extent that they are considering withdrawing from it.

Bejani Chauke, Ramaphosa’s campaign manager, denied the claims of racial tension.

He did not respond to several calls by Netwerk24 on Sunday.

EFF leader Julius Malema commented during a political rally last week that Ramaphosa was not black, but non-white.

Theo Venter, a political analyst at North West University, said on Sunday he did not think the racial composition of Ramaphosa’s campaign management team should be a problem.

“I think if you have to judge your fundraisers according to race, President Jacob Zuma’s camp has as many problems.

“Look where Zuma, Supra Mahumapelo (North West Premier) and Free State Premier Ace Magashule’s money comes from. The Guptas fall in a different race category.

“The sponsors in the Zuma campaign have just as much exposure to racial issues as the Ramaphosa campaign,” Venter said.

“For me there is a logical explanation as to why the Ramaphosa campaign is getting support from the business community. If I have to consider it ideologically within the ANC’s policy of non-racism, there shouldn’t be a problem.

“The campaign will sort itself out in the long term.

“However, I think one has to be careful, especially seen in terms of the ‘white monopoly capital’ narrative,” Venter said. — Netwerk24.