Despite concern among senior ANC officials about the Phala Phala farm robbery matter, the ruling party has reportedly chosen to treat the matter as ‘private’.
DESPITE concern among senior ANC officials about the Phala Phala farm robbery matter, the ruling party has reportedly chosen to treat the matter as “private”.
This emerged after the party’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting at Nasrec at the weekend, where the matter was discussed, with some members calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down. But the ANC has remained silent about what had transpired.
Ramaphosa is accused of concealing a crime that involved millions of dollars at his Limpopo farm.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe did not respond to questions from Independent Media.
However, an insider said the party was worried that the scandal was painting the ruling party in a negative light, and officials preferred to ignore it.
“They can’t keep entertaining this because we are going to conference, and it’s time to concentrate and shift focus to the current conference. Let’s wait for the parliamentary processes to take place first,” the source said.
The ANC is due to hold its 55th national elective conference at Nasrec from December 16 to 20 where Ramaphosa will be seeking a second term.
Challenging him are party heavyweights Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Reports are rife that some NEC members want the Phala Phala saga to be treated as a private matter since no public funds were used. However, there was no official comment from the party confirming this.
Speaking in an interview with the SABC on Monday, NEC member and ANC deputy secretary-general hopeful Nomvula Mokonyane said that although Ramaphosa gave his version pertaining to the Phala Phala matter, she was of the view that a lot needed to be clarified.
“Ramaphosa gave his own version and I think there is still a lot that has to be clarified and we were hoping to get a report from the integrity commission, but there was no report. Ramaphosa presented in his overview that part of his own understanding of what has happened. He went to the integrity commission and I do hope that we are going to get the report.
“Some of us have been saying that we need a consistent approach by the integrity commission so that consistency applies in how they handle that,” Mokonyane said.
“There was no item that said Phala Phala at the meeting. In the political overview, comrade president presented his side and in the discussions everything was raised, and the most unfortunate thing is that treasurer-general Paul Mashatile confirmed that there was no report,” Mokonyane said.
Political analysts have cautioned that if Ramaphosa does not take the country into his confidence over the Phala Phala matter, it may taint his legacy and haunt him.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said there was no way that Ramaphosa could continue to avoid having to account.
Seepe said Ramaphosa may count on the law enforcement agencies not doing their jobs, but this was not sustainable.
“It is not a matter of him not wanting to do so; he will be forced to do so. His image as someone that is incorruptible is already dented. It is a pity that he has abused the courts to cover up his tracks.
“Now he is doing so with the agencies that are supposed to promote accountability. We can forget about the so-called foundations. They are either in his pockets, or in the pockets of those who are funding him. Either way, he can no longer be taken seriously when it comes to dealing with corruption and also being transparent. His whole presidency was based on a lie. But lies can only take you so far, and no further,” Seepe said.
Last week Independent Media was told by a number of opposition parties that they believed the NPA was dragging its feet when it came to Phala Phala matter.
An independent panel on Phala Phala is set to deliver its crucial report on Thursday. The panel was formed after the ATM submitted a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa.
ATM leader and MP Vuyolwethu Zungula said if the criminals who broke into Phala Phala farm are arrested, a lot of dirt would come out.
“We have criminals that broke into Phala Phala farm and stole huge amounts of foreign currency that are roaming around the streets because if arrested, the whole dirt that happened at the farm will come out,” Zungula said.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya reportedly said that the calls for Ramaphosa to step aside were premature. “Should the president be charged, he will gladly step aside,” he said.
