Ramaphosa asks for time and space

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has pleaded with Members of Parliament (MPs) to give him time and space as he ponders upon Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s VBS report.

The Minister is under fire over allegations that she received a loan of more than R500 000 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which had unlawfully invested into the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank, while she was still the Mayor of Polokwane in 2016.

Simelane maintains that there was no wrongdoing on her part, adding that she repaid about R800 000 for the loan that was used to open her coffee shop in Sandton.

She submitted a report to the President, giving her account of her alleged involvement in the looting scandal of the bank that’s known as the Great Bank Heist.

During a Q& A session in the National Assembly, ActionSA’s Dr Kgosi Letlape quizzed the President on what it would take for him to place the tainted Justice Minister on leave as a cloud hangs over her head.

In response, Ramaphosa said it will take him time to consider the matter before reaching a final decision.

“I said I have requested the Minister to submit to me a report on exactly what has happened, that report has been submitted together with various annexures. That is a matter I’m giving consideration to.”

Parliamentarians did not miss the opportunity to question the President on his controversial Phala Phala farm saga.

The farm scandal remains a hot potato, which continues to anger opposition parties after the National Assembly voted against the adoption of the Phala Phala report, which would have paved the way for a section 89 process.

Ramaphosa dodged a bullet, despite the independent report which found that he has a case to answer in relation to the multi-million dollars that were stolen on his farm in 2020.

Several institutions cleared him of wrongdoing, including the Office of the Public Protector and the South African Reserve Bank.

The NPA in Limpopo has also decided not to prosecute him for the possible contravention of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 and Exchange Control Regulation 1962 over the break-in and theft of an undisclosed amount of US dollars at the farm in Bela Bela, Limpopo.

It cited the lack of reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution based on evidence contained in the docket as its reason for the decision.

The President maintains that he has nothing to hide.

“I did say in my reply that this matter was dealt with by the National Assembly, and it took a decision, and that decision is now subject to litigation at the Constitutional Court.”

“I would like to respectfully say, we should allow that process to unfold, and it should be a matter that will be dealt with by that court.”

Ramaphosa says the findings of the various institutions on the matter have been made public.

Earlier this month, the Apex Court resolved to hear the EFF and ATM’s application to revive an impeachment inquiry against Ramaphosa.

The matter has been set down for November 26.