Cape Town – Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide a full account of the 2020 burglary at his Phala Phala game farm, during which millions of US dollars were stolen.
Maimane emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, arguing that Ramaphosa owes South Africans an explanation beyond investigations by legal bodies.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court reserved its decision on an application by the EFF and ATM, challenging parliament’s choice to forgo an impeachment inquiry into the scandal.
Maimane criticised the lack of an oversight committee for holding the president accountable and supported calls for parliament to revisit the issue.
“No wrongdoing on the part of the president, all he needs to do is explain to the people of this country his version of what took place and for parliament to be able to exercise its oversight role in this regard,” said Maimane.
He added: “This is an important matter, not only for the transparency but it speaks to the fact that the president is accountable to the people, not only to the law agencies. [He] is accountable to the people and the people are represented in parliament. The president can come and account before the people of South Africa.”
Maimane also urged the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to clarify procedures for handling large sums of money.
Maimane said, “I know many people would say at one level the criminal process has taken place and, yes, the public protector, who’s the only one capacitated to investigate the issue, has to investigate and come to a finding, which she has. Sars needs to educate us about what happens when large transits of money take place in our country.” .
Ramaphosa has previously survived multiple investigations into the incident by the public protector and the Reserve Bank.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
