Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday told Parliament he did not join the government to make money through fraudulent means, a direct response to ANC Youth League (ANCYL) accusations that he was guilty of a conflict of interest.
Speaking in the National Assembly during question-and-answer time, IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa asked Ramaphosa whether he was ready to call out the ANCYL for spreading "fake news".
#Ramaphosa wishes SAA good luck on a new strategy they're working on.
...but SAA has been working on a new strategy since 1994. pic.twitter.com/6rxuwsakZG
— Hloni Nyetanyane (@HloniNyetanyane) March 1, 2017
In January, the ANCYL accused both Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan of trying to collapse SAA so a company linked to him would benefit financially. Ramaphosa said he was in the process of engaging the youth league on the matter.
"I have told them that the matter they raised publicly was a lie, was a fabrication and as you say, fake news, because there is no truth that I am conducting business with SAA or any other company," he said.
The deputy president said he disposed of all his shares in the Shanduka group in 2014, and therefore has no conflict of interest to declare under the executive ethics code.
"I did not leave business to come into government business, to come and conduct fraudulent business in government," Ramaphosa told MPs.
"I hold the view that if you want to make money, make money in business, do not come and make money dealing with government entities."