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President Cyril Ramaphosa
- President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to answer to the NCOP on why he approved the controversial Defense Minister’s visit to Zimbabwe.
- The trip was used to transport ANC officials to Zimbabwe.
- You will also face questions about Covid-19 related corruption and questions about gender-based violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to explain to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) the circumstances that led him to approve the controversial visit of Defense Minister and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to Zimbabwe last month.
Ramaphosa will answer questions at the NCOP on Tuesday. The virtual session is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
One of the questions, from DA at NCOP Cathlene Labuschagne, concerns the flight, which saw civilians and high-ranking ANC officials – Ace Magashule, Nomvula Mokonyane, Enoch Godongwana, Dakota Lekgoete and Tony Yengeni – in a South African air force. . plane together with Mapisa-Nqakula and the Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu.
After a public outcry, Ramaphosa demanded answers from Mapisa-Nqakula.
Finally, he sanctioned her by taking three months off her salary.
The presidency also published the documentation provided by Mapisa-Nqakula.
According to the documentation, on September 7 Mapisa-Nqakula asked his Zimbabwean counterpart Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri for a meeting to be held on September 9 in Harare.
Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the president of Zanu-PF, agreed in writing the same day.
Additionally, on September 7, Mapisa-Nqakula applied for approval for the trip from Ramaphosa.
Verbal approval
The ministerial manual requires ministers to request approval for international visits at least two weeks before departure.
Mapisa-Nqakula and her entourage left South Africa on September 8.
In the documents provided by Mapisa-Nqakula is a letter from the state’s chief legal counsel, Geofrey Mphaphuli, granting permission for the visit. The letter is dated September 10.
After News24 reported that approval was granted only after Mapisa-Nqakula’s return, the presidency issued a statement: It said Ramaphosa gave his verbal approval for the visit on September 8, the same day as Mapisa-Nqakula and his companions. traveling they left South Africa.
Furthermore, it is clear that Ramaphosa knew of a pending visit by ANC officials to Zimbabwe.
On August 31, Ramaphosa, speaking after an ANC NEC meeting, said:
The secretary general [of the ANC, Ace Magashule] the delegation that will travel to Zimbabwe in a few days to meet with the ruling Zimbabwe party, Zanu-PF, will conclude.
Labuschagne wants to know when Ramaphosa was first informed of the flight, why he approved it and whether he was informed that a delegation from a “certain political party” was included in the flight at the time of approval.
Ramaphosa will also have to answer two questions related to Covid-19 corruption, as well as questions about gender-based violence, the financial sustainability of municipalities, and the damage caused to the public rail system during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The question session was originally scheduled for October 15, but Ramaphosa called a joint session of Parliament on that date to present his economic recovery plan to both houses of Parliament.
The questions:
- NCOP Vice President Sylvia Lucas: Yes, in light of the announcement of the hotspots for GBV in South Africa, the government has considered putting more resources at these hotspots to address the scourge of GBV and whether proactive interventions have been made to ensure protection . of women and children in those areas?
- DA Whip at NCOP Cathlene Labuschagne: Regarding the recent diplomatic trip to Zimbabwe by the defense minister and military veterans, when were you first informed of the flight and why did you approve it, and were you informed that a delegation from a certain political party was included in the flight? flight at the time of approval?
- ANC deputy Maurencia Gillion: Yes, in light of reports of corruption and procurement irregularities regarding the disbursement of funds to ensure a comprehensive national response to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has established deadlines for the investigation of all Covid-19 accusations. corruption and procurement-related irregularities?
- FF Plus MP Armand Cloete: Given the mandate of the Municipal Finance Improvement Program to support municipalities in difficulties and the National Treasury’s spending of R900 million on consultants to support specialized skills advisory to train municipalities, how is future sustainability assured? of municipalities in South Africa?
- DA MP Tim Brauteseth: Has any progress been made regarding the investigations of all the Covid-19 funds manipulation, fraud and corruption cases that he authorized the Special Investigation Unit to investigate through a proclamation he issued in July 2020?
- ANC Deputy Mandla Rayi: Whether the government has implemented any process to quantify the damage that has been caused to public transport infrastructure, such as trains, rail lines, and train stations, during the lockdown period and what plans are in place to ensure the restoration of damaged infrastructure. Doesn’t it have a dire long-term impact on national efforts to restore economic activity and rebuild the economy?
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