By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says for now all processes involved in the investigations into Phala Phala farm scandal must unfold and a decision will be taken once all processes are concluded.
Mbalula, who was addressing the ANC Western Cape conference on Saturday, said the party would not allow opposition parties to decide on Phala Phala.
The public protector has not yet tabled her final report into Phala Phala. A preliminary report was sent to affected parties last year. President Cyril Ramaphosa has been called to account by opposition parties over $582 000 stolen at his farm.
“The ANC will make its own determination on what must happen. And two, we will not just sacrifice our president at the altar, neither are we sycophants of Ramaphosa, we are not.”
If anything were to arise and it requires us to take a decision about the president we have got rules in the ANC and checks and balances. We will decide. If the president has to step aside at some point because he has got things to answer from a point of accountability he will step aside. There is no problem about that. The president will step aside. There is no crisis,” said Mbalula.
He also tore into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe MKhwebane for her attacks on her acting successor Kholeka Gcaleka.
“They are now chasing her wherever she goes, there is a campaign. Leave the Public Protector. Even Mkhwebane we never had campaigns and stopped her from doing her job, as erratic as she was.”
Mbalula also called for an end to putting pressure on law enforcement agencies to act on certain cases.
He said after Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had submitted his state capture report to parliament and other organs of state he must allow them to do their work.
Mbalula said Zondo was also allowed the space he needed to conclude the report.
He added: Judges are not demigods. It is like Judge Zondo now; he has got an opinion week in, week out, which is fine…. But we must respect the separation of powers because he has done what he was supposed to do; he is finished.
“Naye ubhala la report it took him a longer time [It also took him a long time to write his report], he had to change from time to time and ask for more and more [time to finish it]. So kwaba tsotsi bangangaka bagcwele kule country [with so many criminals in this country], how will it be easy to arrest somebody overnight? “asked Mbalula.
“The judge has resolved that people must be prosecuted; it is easy for [Shamila] Batohi to do that job. Leave Batohi, her team, and the NPA to do their job without fear or favour and [allow them to] come to a conclusion, including arresting people.”
Zondo said this week parliament has not been able to act on his recommendations.
Parliament has called for an urgent meeting with Zondo to clarify issues.
The report was handed over to parliament after a few years of investigations by the State Capture Commission.