By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Public Protector has received a complaint from a Member of Parliament alleging that President Cyril Ramaphosa breached the executive code of ethics.
This is in relation to a leaked audio clip in which Ramaphosa, purportedly speaking at a meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), allegedly suggested he was aware of improper use of public funds for ANC activities.
The public protector spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said “the Public Protector South Africa wishes to confirm that a complaint, in which a Member of Parliament has alleged a breach of the Executive Code of Ethics against the President, reached the office late afternoon on Wednesday, 26 January 2022.
“The complaint was lodged in terms of the Executive Members Ethics Act 82 of 1998 (EMEA). The PPSA has been inundated with queries about the complaint since the sitting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts earlier in the week,” Segalwe said.
“The PPSA wishes to remind all concerned that in terms of the EMEA, the Public Protector must investigate any alleged breach of the Code on receipt of a complaint by the President, a member of the National Assembly or a permanent delegate of the National Council of Provinces if the complaint is against a Cabinet member or a Deputy Minister.
“The EMEA further provides that such an investigation must be completed within 30 days. The PPSA is the only accountability institution empowered under the EMEA to enforce executive ethics.”
Mkhwebane’s office announced that the complaint was lodged on Wednesday afternoon.
This was a day after suspended ANC MP Mervyn Dirks appeared before parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) where he urged the committee to “summon” Ramaphosa to account for his alleged remarks.
Dirks said he would also be writing to acting chief justice Raymond Zondo, in his capacity as chair of the state capture commission, regarding Ramaphosa’s failure to share his knowledge about the misuse of public funds with the commission.