By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he has again appeared before the ANC’s integrity commission in relation to the alleged theft of millions of dollars from his Phala Phala farm.
Ramaphosa, addressed the media at a South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) council meeting.
“I had a very good exchange with members of the integrity commission,” said Ramaphosa, who added that he had “given them quite a bit of information”.
He explained that most of what he told the commission was “already in the public domain”.
Since the emergence of the allegations on 1 June 2022, after former spy boss Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint against him, Ramaphosa has refused to publicly shed more light on the incident.
He said he would not make further comments until the investigations had been concluded.
Ramaphosa added that, despite reports suggesting the integrity commission had reached out to ask him to take special leave or resign, no such communication had occurred.
“As a commission, they are meant to write up whatever report, which I have yet to see; maybe you [as the media] have seen it, but I haven’t, and it will only be after I have seen it that I can comment,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa was more forthcoming about the Phala Phala robbery last week at the National Assembly, unlike a month ago when he refused to answer MPs’ questions citing legal advice not to go into detail about the matter.
Fraser accused Ramaphosa of, among other things, kidnapping, money laundering, bribery, and “concealing a crime” in relation to the alleged theft at his farm.
Sadtu is an affiliate member of Cosatu – but, despite the hostile reception received by the ANC at the elective congress, Ramaphosa received a warm welcome at Sadtu’s national general council.
Addressing the union, Ramaphosa praised the work that teachers undertook during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that while they were at the frontline during the pandemic, teachers continued to work with students to ensure they salvaged what was left of the academic year.
He also indicated that, beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, “teachers are increasingly working under testing circumstances, given the rapid rise in incidents of violence, abuse and bullying”.
Teachers are being attacked at schools, and another scourge is the increasing incidents of racism that show there are people who want to reverse the gains that we have achieved,” said Ramaphosa.
He called on teachers, parents and policing forums to work hand-in-hand to reduce the incidents of violence.