Lungani Zungu
President Cyril Ramaphosa will spend the rest of the week at the state capture commission, where he will testify as both president of the ANC and as state president.
His testimony will likely shed light on how the Guptas captured the state during Jacob Zuma’s tenure. The ANC’s role in enabling state capture will also be thrust into the spotlight.
Ramaphosa was Zuma’s deputy in the ANC and the country when the Guptas allegedly pulled strings even on sensitive matters like the appointment of cabinet ministers, which is supposed to be the prerogative of the president only.
Ramaphosa first appeared at the commission in April. He was due back at the inquiry in May, but his appearance was delayed when Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo announced that his commission was granted an extension until September.
Many witnesses, including former government spokesperson Themba Maseko, delivered damning allegations at the commission directly linking the Guptas and Zuma to the capture of the state.
Maseko told the commission that Zuma had personally told him to work with the Guptas.
Zuma has not denied his friendship with the Guptas but he has repeatedly refuted any allegations of state capture from his side.
Ramaphosa previously told the commission that the ANC first heard of state capture in 2011 during an ANC NEC meeting after Fikile Mbalula, NEC member said he was told by the Guptas that he would be appointed as a minister. This eventually happened.
Ramaphosa said he discovered later as deputy president that some strategic government appointments were being made by private people like the Guptas.
Newly-appointed ministers, including the new Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, was at the commission to support Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa’s testimony would likely cause more tension in the already divided ANC as his detractors have accused him of not taking any responsibility as the deputy president but instead had shifted the blame to Zuma.
Image source: @BusinessLIVE
