President Cyril Ramaphosa rebuffed attempts by opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday to pin him down on the Phala Phala scandal involving $580,000 found stuffed in a couch at his game farm.
The president also refused to answer questions about what action he planned to take against justice minister Thembi Simelane in relation to the R575,600 loan she received from Gundo Wealth Solutions while she was mayor of Polokwane, saying he needed time and space to consider the matter. Gundo solicited funds from municipalities including Polokwane for the collapsed VBS Mutual Bank.
MK party leader and impeached former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe led the charge against the president on the Phala Phala matter, asking Ramaphosa whether he intended to deal with the questions raised by the findings and recommendations of the independent panel chaired by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo and appointed by parliament to investigate the matter.
The panel said the president had a prima facie case to answer for violating the constitution and his oath of office.
The National Assembly resolved in December 2022 not to initiate an inquiry on the basis of the report, a decision which the EFF has taken to the Constitutional Court. The court will hear arguments on November 26 whether in making this decision the assembly failed to fulfil its obligations under the constitution.
“As of today, investigations conducted by a wide range of independent law enforcement agencies have been finalised. The SA Revenue Service, the SA Reserve Bank, the public protector and the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) have all conducted investigations into the matter. None of these bodies have found that there was any wrongdoing on my part,” Ramaphosa said.
“As was my obligation, constitutionally and legally, I co-operated with each and every one of these institutions.
“I have full faith that the court will decide the issue before it in a comprehensive and final manner. The fight against corruption is a priority of this government and will remain so. We will continue to capacitate the law enforcement agencies at the centre of this fight against corruption. We will support the independence of institutions who must act without fear or favour.”
Hlophe pointed out that the heads of all the institutions that had investigated the Phala Phala matter were appointed by Ramaphosa and their findings contradicted those of the independent panel. He called on Ramaphosa to tell the truth about the transactions “which had nothing to do with a legitimate business”.
Ramaphosa replied that the Constitutional Court review of the National Assembly decision should be allowed to unfold.
African Transformation Movement leader Vuyo Zungula said the independent panel report had not been set aside by any court of law and should be binding on Ramaphosa’s conscience.
EFF leader Julius Malema said the EFF had taken the National Assembly decision for review by the Constitutional Court as it did not believe it was correct.
Responding to DA justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach’s question on the Simelane matter, Ramaphosa said he had made it clear to the members of the cabinet “that they are expected to meet the standards established by the executive ethics code and to uphold the oath that they each took on assuming office”.
Freedom Front Plus parliamentary leader Corne Mulder wanted to know whether given the success of the government of national unity (GNU), it should not be extended to all other spheres of government.
Ramaphosa said: “Whether the GNU approach can and should be extended to other spheres of government is a matter that the political parties need to discuss among themselves. The experience of the GNU has, to date, been encouraging and instructive. As a country, as political parties, we should see what lessons can be drawn, and if there are other circumstances in which they can be applied.”
He said it was a matter that should be discussed in the clearing house set up for the GNU’s 10 political parties to deal with their differences and find solutions.
DA chief whip George Michalakis asked Ramaphosa why the ANC in Tshwane had not sided with its GNU partners and whether this was because he could not or would not take a stand against Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi and lead his party.
“In the end how parties work together really depends on their willingness and determination to embrace one another and find solutions. But also in the end it depends on the chemistry among the participants themselves,” Ramaphosa said.
Replying to Malema’s question on when the government would act on a National Assembly resolution to close the Israeli embassy in SA and suspend diplomatic relations until there was a ceasefire, Ramaphosa said the matter was being considered in a very active matter by the executive.
SA’s support for the Palestinian cause was “irrevocable”, the president said.
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