Photo: YouTube screenshot
Photo: YouTube screenshot
If Cyril Ramaphosa is still available for selection, the Proteas must consider giving the president a call-up immediately – because he has played the State Capture Inquiry with an impeccable defence, offering a straight bat to every question. However, one particular issue managed to sneak through the gate – and it left him and DCJ Zondo in hysterics.
Watch: Cyril Ramaphosa, Raymond Zondo laugh it up at the State Capture Inquiry
Ramaphosa, who was being grilled on the ANC’s alleged ‘inability’ to respond quickly to the state capture scandal, burst into a fit of laughter when Zondo recalled testimony from Gwede Mantashe. The minister had previously stated that the party tends to be ‘slow’ in dealing with matters of corruption – and that, apparently, was the gag of the century…
Yeah no bother Cyril. It’s only a Commission of Inquiry into the the trillions lost to state capture by the ANC government… perfect time to start cracking the one-liners! ????????#Cyril #PresidentCyrilRamaphosa #StateCaptureInquiry #Zondo pic.twitter.com/YAiQm0EOdm
— Tom (@WiggumCharm) April 29, 2021
Day 2 of Cyril Ramaphosa at the State Capture Inquiry – latest news and updates
Several complaints have been raised on social media – with some questioning why Ramaphosa is seemingly ‘enjoying himself’ in what is usually a pressure cooker environment. Following his fit of the giggles, Cyril was soon back under the spotlight: He was asked about his own ‘inaction’ as deputy president, while the Guptas looted at will. Ramaphosa replied:
“The ANC didn’t have direct evidence of allegations of the Gupta family’s undue influence or investigative capacity. The Gupta Leaks then acted flood of evidence that required Parliament to start doing its work.”
The story so far…
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa admitted that the ANC had become aware of malfeasance and patronage within the state and within its own ranks: “State capture took place under our watch as the governing party”, he told the Zondo Commission.
Dozens of ministers and former ministers, elected officials, businessmen and senior civil servants have appeared before the commission. And at the centre of the scandal is the Gupta business family, who won lucrative contracts with state companies and were allegedly even able to choose cabinet ministers.
Ramaphosa, who is the first sitting president to testify in such a probe, appeared in his capacity as the current leader of the African National Congress (ANC). The president is expected to continue testifying on Thursday, then return to the probe in his capacity as head of state at the end of May.
