Pretoria - The Presidency has rebuffed media reports which claim that President Jacob Zuma had a hand in the alleged withdrawal of an academic honour for Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in China.
“The reports are baseless and ridiculous. Neither the President nor his private office had any knowledge of this honour that was apparently turned down, until enquiries came from Media24 or Naspers newspapers,” Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said on Sunday.
The media had reported that Motlanthe was due to receive an academic honour from the University of International Business and Economics, which was unexpectedly withdrawn.
Reports claimed that Zuma and Motlanthe were “no longer work together”.
Maharaj said the President and his deputy continued to work well together and share responsibilities, including Cabinet.
“It would thus assist greatly if the media probed deeper before believing and publishing spurious allegations of this nature so as not to peddle falsehoods,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
