Ramaphosa loses court bid to stop 'smear campaign'
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has lost a last-minute court bid to prevent the Sunday Independent from publishing a story about his personal life.
The ANC presidential hopeful turned to the High Court in Johannesburg on Saturday in an attempt to prevent the newspaper from publishing a story claiming he is a "serial philanderer".
But Judge Bashir Vally ruled that the application was not urgent.
In a statement on Saturday, Ramaphosa described the allegations that he gave money to several young women as "deeply disturbing".
"There are 54 young students, both men and women, that my wife and I provide financial assistance to on a monthly basis and have done so for several years. It is unfortunate that evidence of these bank transfers have been used to make scandalous allegations against me and, worse, to make public the names of some of the people assisted.
"We find it disturbing that the privacy of these young women has been violated through the publication of their names and pictures on social media. It shows a callous disregard for the rights of the individual."
Ramaphosa believes the allegations are part of a political smear campaign against him.
"It represents an escalation of a dirty war against those who are working to restore the values, principles and integrity of the African National Congress and society."
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Ramaphosa admitted to having an affair with a Limpopo doctor eight years ago, but says it ended and they now have a professional relationship.