President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation with his message for the New Year. Image: Presidency / Twitter
NO REGRETS: ANC MP Mervyn Dirks speaks out amid Ramaphosa saga
The ANC suspended Mervyn Dirks over his calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to account for claims of state funds being misused
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation with his message for the New Year. Image: Presidency / Twitter
Suspended ANC MP Mervyn Dirks is sticking to his guns and has defended his decision to report President Cyril Ramaphosa for comments he allegedly made.
Dirks was temporarily given the boot over his calls for Ramaphosa to answer to allegations of the misappropriation of state funds. This stems from a leaked audio recording where Ramaphosa seemingly admits to knowing about public funds being used for ANC campaigns.
In the clip, first obtained by Daily News, Ramaphosa seemingly admits to knowing about public funds being used for the ANC’s leadership campaigns and can be heard saying he would rather fall on his sword over donations to his 2017 campaign for the ANC presidency – than have the public find out about the former.
Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is already set to investigate the audio and determine whether Ramaphosa violated his oath of office. The complaint was lodged by Dirks, who accuses the president of breaching the Executive Code of Ethics.
MERVYN DIRKS: I’M MANDATED TO EXPOSE CORRUPTION
Speaking on eNCA‘s Power to Truth on Monday evening, 31 January 2022, Mervyn Dirks says he has been mandated by the ANC to expose corruption – and did just that by reporting the president.
Dirks says by the time he raised the matter, the allegations were already in the public domain and the clip had been by at least 2 million people online.
“I felt that since this thing is in the public domain and the ANC have time and again told us that we must expose corruption, the president himself saying you must expose corruption, you must fight corruption,” he said.
He says he first heard the recording of Ramaphosa on 20 December, when Parliament had closed for the festive season.
“I don’t need permission now to say can I go and raise this issue now, because I have been given the mandate by the ANC to say expose corruption wherever it exists.”
Suspended ANC MP Mervyn Dirks
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) is awaiting a response from Ramaphosa and wants him to clarify his comments.
