President Zondo Commission Ramaphosa

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Cyril on Zondo Commission: ‘We knew it could lead to tensions’ in the ANC

Ramaphosa said members of the ruling party knew the Zondo Commission would cast a spotlight on the movement, however, it needed to be done.

President Zondo Commission Ramaphosa

Image via Flickr/GCIS

President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday 7 December, during an African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting said members knew the Zondo Commission would be a “painful process,” however, in order to combat corruption, it was a necessary measure. 

Ramaphosa went on to say that the Zondo Commission is nearing the end of its work and should be presenting its report in the first half of next year.

ZONDO COMMISSION: ‘WE KNEW IT COULD LEAD TO TENSIONS WITHIN THE MOVEMENT’ 

Ramaphosa said that even as the 54th National Conference resolved to support the establishment of the Commission, members knew that it would cast a spotlight on the ANC, its government and its cadres. 

“We knew that it was likely to be a painful process and could lead to tensions within the movement and society, but Conference considered it to be a necessary part of ending state capture and taking a clear stand against corruption,” he said. 

“We have always said that the Commission must be able to do its work, that it must do so without fear or favour, and that we have a responsibility – as ANC members and as citizens – to do whatever we can to assist the Commission in fulfilling its mandate,” added Ramaphosa. 

Ramaphosa said that in August, the NEC took a firm stand on corruption within the ranks of the movement and in public institutions and the private sector. 

“It is now necessary to follow through on these decisions both to advance the renewal effort and to retain support and trust of society,” he added.  

Speaking of the inquiry, the Zondo Commission last week, issued fresh legal summons to former president Jacob Zuma and his legal team after he staged a walk-out at his previous appearance. The last time Zuma appeared, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zuma declined to recuse himself from the commission as requested by uBaba. Safe to say Msholozi was not impressed. 

Zuma’s advocate Musi Sikhakhane has since confirmed that they want to appeal the decision.  

‘THE ANC NEEDS TO BE UNITED WITH SOCIETY’ – RAMAPHOSA  

Ramaphosa said ANC leadership has the means and the responsibility to restore the movement to one of integrity and credibility; a movement that is united in action, and which places the needs and the interest of the people above anything else.

“There is little value in having a united ANC if we do not unite society and if we do not place the goal of a united South Africa at the centre of our efforts,” said Ramaphosa. 

“To do this, the ANC needs to be united with society. We need to narrow the distance between the masses of the people and our movement. We need to be rooted among our people and we need to derive our political legitimacy from their support for our movement.

“We can start to do that by respecting our own decisions and exercising our revolutionary political consciousness,” he added. 

Having the Zondo Commission carry out its duty is no doubt one of those decisions as previously mentioned by the president. The fourth task the NEC set for the movement for 2020 was to strengthen governance and tackle corruption.

According to Ramaphosa, the movement made important progress in rebuilding our public institutions and ensuring that the people who lead the institutions are competent, capable and act with integrity. 

“These include government departments, agencies, SOEs and law enforcement entities. We have done much to stabilise, strengthen and resource law enforcement agencies as part of the effort to prevent and detect corruption, to ensure that the law takes its cause where corruption is alleged to have taken place and that funds lost to corruption and wrongdoing are recovered,” he added.