By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the recent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and prisoners as confidence-building steps in the Middle East.
A ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas early Thursday in Egypt’s Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, mediated by the guarantor states – Qatar, Egypt, the US, and Türkiye – and based on a plan presented by US President Donald Trump.
He, however, said that these recent actions do not affect South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention.
The president was speaking during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s commitment to justice and the long-term goal of an independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel.
He also emphasised that real justice and self-determination must follow legal and diplomatic processes.
The 20-point ceasefire plan, first announced on Sept. 29, includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the rebuilding of Gaza.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has left Gaza largely uninhabitable, leading to widespread starvation and diseases.
Human Settlement Minister
The president was also questioned about his failure to address allegations against Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane.
Simelane was allegedly involved in VBS Mutual Bank looting saga. Ramaphosa was asked if suspending Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu signals a shift in his anti-corruption stance.
He denied having double standards in handling allegations against ministers. He said he carefully evaluates each case.
He explained that he requests reports and makes decisions based on facts, without fear, favour, or prejudice.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) criticised the president for not removing Simelane despite her alleged involvement in corruption.
Tembisa Hospital
Ramaphosa said he personally confronted alleged Tembisa Hospital kingpin Hangwani Maumela over corruption claims.
This was in contrast to what his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told journalists at a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Monday.
In response to a question by ANC NCOP member Onica Dipuo Modupi, who asked him to clarify his relationship with Maumela, and whether the allegation linking him to the individual sought to undermine his commitment to combating corruption regardless of who is involved, Ramaphosa said,
“Yes, this matter has occupied the headlines for quite a number of days now. My spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, addressed the media yesterday in response to what they said was a video and a photograph.”
Magwenya told the media on Monday at the Union Buildings that Ramaphosa had admitted that decades ago, he married the aunt of Maumela, who is accused of involvement in the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal, but insisted that Ramaphosa had never met Maumela and had no personal or business relationship with him.
Ramaphosa said Magwenya had been focused on the photograph, and he sought to clarify the relationship.
“Now, in 2024, that should be known because Magwenya focused on the photograph – I confirm that in 2024, while walking on that same street, a person came out of the house and greeted me. It was Maumela.”
“I often meet people and ask who they are. He said, ‘I am Hangwani Maumela.’ I said, ‘So you are the Maumela who is putting my name into disrepute.’ He smiled. I walked away from home.”
“On December 26, 2024, I was walking with my daughter, who also enjoys walking, on the same street. This young man came out and said, ‘Hello, Bo-Ramaphosa, my mother is here – can you say hello to her?’ I asked, ‘Who is she?’ He said, ‘It’s Mboneni Maumela.”
“When I was at school in Papirosi High School with my then wife, Pope Mudao, her brother was there. Later, I discovered that Mboneni and her brother had a relationship, and they had a child – this is Hangwani Maumela, though I did not know him. I know his mother because we attended school together.”
He asked me to greet her. She came out of the yard wearing a morning gown. I said I could not allow her to stand in the street in a morning gown, so I moved toward the gate, greeted her, asked how she was doing, then walked away.”
“That is the sum total of it all. I do not deal with him. I do not visit his house. I have merely encountered him.”
Ramaphosa said he was appalled at allegations made against Maumela.
“I am appalled. As I walk past that house, I know the house was allegedly built with money not properly acquired – money that should have been spent on the health of our people.”
“The SIU has taken action, and I applaud them. That is why I say we are making progress. The Special Investigating Unit is reclaiming stolen money – we must support and applaud their efforts.”
The Special Investigating Unite (SIU) revealed it had seized R133.5-million worth of assets in a raid linked to a syndicate allegedly tied to Maumela.