Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the removal of "greedy and corrupt people" in an audio clip taken from a speech he delivered in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend.

Following President Jacob Zuma's dramatic Cabinet reshuffle last week, which saw the removal of Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas from the Finance Ministry, Ramaphosa urged South Africans to remain hopeful.

"The events that are unfolding now are not events that should make us scared, are not events that should make us afraid of the future that beckons. We have a great country and we have great people in the country, greatly talented people. And our people are yearning for leadership and also yearning for a government that is going to serve the interests of the people," he stated.

He said the recent political event was a process that was going to bring about the renewal that the country needed.

He pleaded with South Africans to support the efforts that were going to be made "by those who want to make sure that our country lives up to the values of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo".

"Let us act together in unity, unite our movement and country around one goal – making South Africa great, corruption free, and getting rid of greedy people and corrupt people," Ramaphosa declared.