Cape Town - Agang party leader Dr Mamphela Ramphele has criticised those focusing on what she says she is worth instead of focusing on the fact that she revealed her net worth in the name of transparency.
On Sunday, at a meeting with Delft residents in The Hague area, Ramphele said people should not follow politicians who do not disclose their net worth to the public.
“Don’t vote for anyone who doesn’t say what they own.”
Last week when she disclosed details of her finances, Ramphele said she had shares worth R1.38-million in Anglo American, Gold Fields, Sibanye Gold and the PTI Select Managers Fund.
Her primary residence in Camps Bay was valued at R10m. A total of R1 146 139 was in her retirement annuity and R1 574 064 in a provident fund.
Her family trust held R30m and her investment trust R10.9m, she said at the time.
On Sunday, she reiterated that President Jacob Zuma should also disclose his net worth.
“The president is in Malaysia right now, but not to raise money for South Africa but for the ANC with taxpayers’ money.
“We have a president who doesn’t know how much he owns, maybe a palace?”
She added that as long as people are treated as less than human, society cannot succeed.
“We are digging our foundations here in Delft.
“I went through Blikkiesdorp and Delft and am ashamed to be South African because people are made to live in Blikkies.
“Why are people being treated like second-class citizens? We want to restore hope and dignity.
“Madiba has sacrificed the prime of his life and his freedom.”
Ramphele added that corruption needed to be rooted out.
“Government has lost its way. We are sick and tired of corrupt police. We must never think that everyone is corrupted, however, but our police service needs to be rebuilt.”
She added that Agang wanted a country where children could feel safe, loved and proud.
“How did it happen that we have a government that says children are too dumb for a 70 to 80 percent pass, that 30 percent pass is accepted? They need proper teachers.”
Ramphele said that everyone had the right and responsibility to rebuild the country.
“Rural areas are dying. Lots of people are coming to the Western Cape from the Eastern Cape.
“We cannot have people living in Blikkiesdorp; we have enough money to build houses for everyone.
“It is time that we say enough is enough.”
The Weekend Argus reported that Ramphele said her wealth was 10 times less than Forbes magazine’s estimate of R500-million.
Her net worth is a much lower R55m, she said last week in disclosing her assets.
However, several media reports over the past three years have painted a different picture of her wealth.
In 2011, Forbes listed Ramphele among Africa’s nine richest women.
Last week, AgangSA spokesman Thabo Leshilo could not explain why the discrepancy had not been challenged by Ramphele two years ago when it was first published.
He said he had tried without success to understand how Forbes reached its calculation of Ramphele’s wealth.
Forbes Africa editor Chris Bishop told Weekend Argus the magazine stood by its story, adding that the US team that had put together the 2011 list was about 100-strong and had included many highly trained economists.
Cape Argus