Ramaphosa to testify at State Capture Commission

All eyes will be fixed on the State Capture Commission on Wednesday, 28 April 2021, as President Cyril Ramaphosa will be taking the stand.

He was initially set to give testimony on 22, 23, 28 and 29 April, however the two former dates had to be changed as he sought a postponement, citing other commitments. In addition, the president will return for two more days to give evidence on 13 and 14 May.

The commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, started in 2018 and has since then, heard legions of testimony and evidence pointing to misgovernance and grand looting, for the most part.

From kickbacks, flouted tender processes, irregular appointments to key government entities, questionable irregular expenditure, unsubstantiated large payments, failed projects and then some – the commission has no doubt revealed the extent of dubious activity in government, which has left a bitter taste and many people’s mouths.

As the current figure at the helm, President Cyril Ramaphosa has the undesirable task of accounting for years of government failures and corruption – much of which occurred under the Jacob Zuma administration.

Some of Ramaphosa’s critics, including opposition parties have argued that having been Zuma’s deputy, he (Ramaphosa) too has some explaining to do and shouldn’t be absolved of any accountability in that regard.

What should we expect from Ramaphosa?

It has been reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa will likely expand on his 2019 affidavit to the State Capture Commission – in which he said he had met with the controversial Gupta family on several occasions.

Ramaphosa will possibly also touch on his links to the scandal-plagued company Bosasa – which first came to everyone’s attention when then DA leader Mmusi Maimane asked about a R500 000 payment it made to his son.

The president first said his son had been paid for some work he did with Bosasa, but later revealed it was actually a donation to his CR17 campaign.

The ANC has in the meantime expressed its support for its leader, ahead of his appearance before Zondo.

“I think the President is a big boy, he knows what he is expected to respond to and I’m quite certain that as the president and former president of the ANC, he will be able to put things into perspective and present what he knows and what has been his responsibility, as well as how the organisation has dealt with issues that the commission is quite interested to hear from him,” ANC NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane said to the SABC.