Durban - After being disrupted during his budget vote speech in Parliament yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa will now have to turn his attention to his appearance before the ANC’s Integrity Commission.
Yesterday, the EFF disrupted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s budget speech on the Presidency budget vote, demanding that he respond to questions over the theft of foreign currency from his farm in 2020.
Disruptions in Parliament occurred again today as Ramaphosa was set to respond to the budget vote debate with EFF members refusing to be addressed by the president.
Former State Security Agency (SSA) and prison boss Arthur Fraser made allegations that Ramaphosa had not reported the crime to the police and had sought to cover up the matter.
The EFF had earlier threatened to disrupt the event saying it would “not be addressed by a criminal”.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the Presidency is filled with secrets and scandals. “There is a blurring of the lines between Ramaphosa head of State and Ramaphosa the businessman. I am concerned that the presidential VIP protection unit is conducting cross border investigations, interrogations and cover-ups for the president.”
The focus will now turn to the ANC’s integrity commission, after Ramaphosa said he would voluntarily appear before it and explain the circumstances surrounding the stolen money at his game farm.
It is not clear when Ramaphosa is expected to appear before the commission.
But his appearance before the commission is being seen by many as a test to see if the commission is independent or whether it too has been drawn into the factional battles that exist in the party.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said the integrity commission risked being seen as a sanitising booth if it is inconsistent with how it applies sanctions against ANC party members facing serious allegations.
“Ramaphosa knows he is going to a sanitising platform or forum and he will say that he is innocent until proven guilty but for others this has not applied – mere suspicion has been enough for them to be asked to step aside while investigations continued,” Seepe said.
Professor Bheki Mngomezulu said the integrity commission must read the political rhythm that could affect the ANC in the future.
“There is a lot at stake which they must consider, not just for the party but also for the country down the line.
“The president has voluntarily offered to appear before the commission and that can be seen as positive as he respects the institution, but on the other hand we have to factor in that the ANC is factionalised at all levels,”
Mngomezulu said the commission would be under scrutiny to see if Ramaphosa will be treated in the same manner as others such as suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule.