Parliament receives president Cyril Ramaphosa report on Phala Phala

Parliament’s Section 89 committee that has been tasked with deciding whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed a serious offence regarding the Phala Phala scandal, has handed its report to the speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Wednesday.

The panel is chaired by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo. It was also set up to establish whether there was evidence of wrongdoing on Ramaphosa’s part in the Phala Phala saga.

The report which is also in three parts will be made available to MPs on Wednesday evening.

The report would also be debated by parliament on 6 December. At which point the house would vote on whether to take further action by a single majority.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also told the panel that he never drew a salary. Also that he had declared his financial interests at all times.

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA RESPONSE

Ramaphosa divested from his business interests in 2012 after he became deputy president.

“I am entitled to retain assets or financial interests where no conflict of interest would arise, if these are declared,” Ramaphosa said in a document responding to the panel.

“The ATM and EFF’s proposition that I have misconstrued my obligations in this regard is entirely without merit. I do not perform paid work for Ntaba Nyoni. Nothing I said has ever suggested as much. Nor do I receive remuneration for work or service other than my functions as President in the service of the people of South Africa,” his submission read.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS ON PHALA-PHALA

The allegations against Cyril Ramaphosa were first made public by former State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser in an affidavit to police in June.

He alleged that Ramaphosa and his head of security, Major General Wally Rhoode, had engaged in a cover-up. Committed other offences in the process after the theft of $580 000 at Phala Phala in 2020.