REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CAPE TOWN -- The Presidency on Saturday denied press reports that there are tensions between President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Presidency "is shocked" by the fabrication published by the Mail and Guardian newspaper claiming that there is tension between Zuma and Ramaphosa because the latter did not attend the gala dinner of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) Friday night, presidential spokesperson Bogani Majorla said.

Rumours of tension between Zuma and Ramaphosa have taken centre stage ahead of Zuma's statement marking the ANC's 104th anniversary, the report said.

According to the report, Ramaphosa did not attend the ANC's gala dinner in Sun City, North West Province on Friday. His absence, the report claimed, "appears to have caught party leaders - including President Jacob Zuma - off guard".

Ramaphosa was away in South Sudan as part of his effort to help that country end its civil war and reunite the divided ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, but he was expected to attend the gala dinner - usually used to raise funds for the party, the report said.

"Ramaphosa's no show at the event could be interpreted by some as an indication of an increasing tension between him and president Zuma," the report said.

The report "is preposterous" as Ramaphosa was in Juba, South Sudan in his capacity as a special envoy of Zuma, as announced to the whole country before departure, Majola said.

Ramaphosa was supposed to arrive back in South Africa in time for the ANC dinner. However, his South African Air Force plane developed technical difficulties and he had to return back home commercially. He landed back around 1:30 a.m. in South Africa during which time the gala dinner had ended, according to Majorla.

"Had the reporter inquired, he would have obtained the facts before spreading lies to the public," Majola said.

"We hope that the Mail and Guardian will endeavour to improve reporting standards," he added.

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