Maimane probes Ramaphosa on Bosasa donation. Image: Twitter.com/khuseladiko
Ramaphosa chooses to “reflect” on Maimane’s R3 million Bosasa question
The President decided to take “wise counsel” once given to him by the public protector.
Maimane probes Ramaphosa on Bosasa donation. Image: Twitter.com/khuseladiko
In the National Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa barely answered the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane’s question about the R3 million Bosasa donation made to the African National Congress in 2014.
Maimane probes Ramaphosa on the R3m Bosasa donation received by the ANC
Maimane asked his question after revealing the March 2014 thank you letter, from current the Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize, thanking Bosasa for the R3 million donation received.
“In my hand Mr president, I am holding a letter that was sent by your party the ANC, saying to Bosasa: ‘We want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to your organisation for this donation, and the continued financial support to the organisation which is the ANC.’
Now Mr President, your organisation has received R3 million, you were the deputy president of the ANC at the time. I want to remind you of the basics in law, if you are in possession of money deemed from criminal activities, that is also a crime. So what I want to know Mr President, will you undertake today to ensure that the ANC repays to the fiscus all the money received from Bosasa for the past 15 years? As those monies were derived from proceeds of corruption.”
DA leader, Mmusi Maimane
Maimane initially noted that the Bosasa group had various relationships with the different government officials and departments, that were previously found to be “improper and corrupt”.
Pravin’s name was brought into the mix
The DA leader also mentioned that Treasury had sought to cancel all existing contracts with Bosasa, and have the company blacklisted. Pravin Gordhan’s name was brought into the mix, as Maimane further stated that in the fundraising efforts for CR17, Gordhan would have known this information, as he was the finance minister at the time.
Cyril stood his ground and chose to “reflect” on the question asked
Ramaphosa stood solidly in his podium and replied to Maimane stating that he would opt to take “wise counsel” the public protector had once given him.
“When honourable Maimane played the same gimmick the last time, the public protector in one of the paragraphs in her report said: ‘Mr President, when that was done to you, you should have asked for the copy and said; ‘I would like to reflect on it and deal with it later.” She said that is what I should have done. She and I differ on outcomes and conclusions, but in this case, I want to take her counsel and say to honourable Maimane; please give me that letter and I will reflect on it.”
In a recent statement by the DA, the party states that Bosasa has continuosly bribed ANC officials.
“Bosasa contracts with the ANC government total over R12 billion. This is corruption 101 and follows the standard ANC triangle of corruption: the ANC-in-government gives lucrative tenders to connected cronies who bribe officials, which in return funds the ANC. In addition, President Ramaphosa received a R500 000 “donation” from Bosasa towards his CR17 campaign. Subsequent to that, his son Andile has secured lucrative deals with Bosasa to the value of at least R2 million.”
DA leader, Mmusi Maimane
