Ramaphosa Phala Phala

Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of emulating Jacob Zuma in Parliament – Photo: PresidencyZA / Twitter

Did Cyril dodge Phala Phala questions? See his full response here

The opposition is furious – but so’s the Presidency! Both sides have different accounts of Ramaphosa’s response to the Phala Phala scandal.

Ramaphosa Phala Phala

Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of emulating Jacob Zuma in Parliament – Photo: PresidencyZA / Twitter

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of creating ‘Nkandla 2.0’ in Parliament this week, after he was accused of dodging questions about the Phala Phala farm scandal. However, his office has flat-out denied that this was the case.

ramaphosa phala phala
The Phala Phala scandal continues to plague the president – Twitter / @PresidencyZA

Did the president account for farm scandal? The jury’s out…

John Steenhuisen was left dismayed by Ramaphosa’s response to a question about monies found at his Phala Phala property. In a written statement, the DA leader said the head of state was now ‘indistinguishable from Jacob Zuma’, in the way he treats the National Assembly.

The Presidency has hit back, though. They are adamant that Cyril Ramaphosa DID answer the question about his role in the controversy – and even went as far as to publish the entire transcript from his response. So, is this a satisfactory reply, or merely ‘word soup’?

You can be the judge…

IN FULL: How Cyril Ramaphosa answered the Phala Phala question

“Investigations are ongoing. The focus that various agencies are putting on this matter demonstrates the importance of this matter and the way they are dealing with it. I have responded, and will continue to respond, to all the questions that have been put to me by the relevant authorities.”
 
“In the course of what they are working on, the authorities have said that it is best if they deal with all these attendant matters relating to this theft that occurred at Phala Phala, and be able to address every issue.”

“I have been counselled and advised that it is best to address these matters when those processes have been done. Now I stand ready, as people have said, to take the nation into my confidence. I stand ready to do so, to give an explanation.”

“But for me, it has been important that I should give space, stand back and allow the various agencies to deal with the Phala Phala matter as thoroughly as I believe they are doing.”

“While there are clearly individuals and organisations that seek some mileage out of this issue, the most appropriate response from my side is for the law to take its course.”
 
“It is important for me that due process is followed, including the process that is going to unfold in Parliament. I stand ready to cooperate with the Phala Phala process as well and will be ready to be fully accountable. I stand here as Cyril Ramaphosa not being unwilling to be accountable.”

“Therefore, I want to be fully accountable and I am saying once again that it is important, and those who are dealing with these matters have said it is important that we be given time and space to deal with all the aspects of this matter.” | Cyril Ramaphosa