The shocking visuals were broadcast live, and the event descended into chaos once President Ramaphosa took to the stage. Although the crowd was sparse, those who turned up all had axes to grind.
Cyril was booed the minute he started speaking, and after twice attempting to deliver an address, the boisterous crowd refused to let him settle. Ramaphosa also tried to calm the crowd, with limited success.
Watch: Cyril Ramaphosa ‘chased away’ in North West
In the end, as angry crowd members advanced towards the stage, the security teams present decided that it was no longer safe for the ANC leader to stay where he was. Alongside Minister Blade Nzimande, Cyril was escorted away.
Please take your 39 seconds of your data and watch Ramaphosa escorted by Nyala.
Black people are fed up pic.twitter.com/3D6pyDnDpW— 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐤𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫
(@Rakgadi_EM) May 1, 2022
BREAKING: The president @CyrilRamaphosa whisked away as protesters demanded that he leaves. @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/2LVyOg6knP
— Pelane Phakgadi (@PelaneM) May 1, 2022
[ON AIR] President Cyril Ramaphosa trying to calm the angry Sibanye-Stillwater workers. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/2LN6JOulGK
— eNCA (@eNCA) May 1, 2022
Why did Cyril Ramaphosa get such a hard time?
So, what’s got the locals so fired up? Well, the mining community of Rustenburg is currently fighting for a significant wage increase. Talks with Sibanye Stillwater have stalled, and COSATU members feel that they are not being supported by Ramaphosa and his colleagues in government.
Cyril’s very ‘indirect’ role in the Marikana Massacre ten years ago has also rubbed mineworkers up the wrong way, and he’s not exactly the most popular figure in North West. Man alive, was that evident today…
So COSATU booked the whole stadium for Ramaphosa to address 120 people who are not happy to see him
#Rustenburg pic.twitter.com/FuKYA35bK1
— Mmadikgosi Matshego (@Mmadikgosi_23) May 1, 2022