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The president faced a series of questions related to the party’s tenders and donations led by EFF leader Julius Malema.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa engages with communities across the country through a virtual Presidential Imbizo on the coronavirus. Image: @ PresidencyZA / Twitter
CAPE TOWN – President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday that it was improper for any political party funder to condition their support on receiving state tenders.
He also told the National Assembly that if Parliament wanted to enact a law governing the financing of internal party campaigns, it should.
Ramaphosa faced a series of questions related to tenders and party donations led by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.
Malema wanted to know why Ramaphosa was resisting the release of the bank accounts of donors who financed the CR17 campaign, his successful bid in 2017 to become president of the African National Congress (ANC).
But Ramaphosa made it clear that the matter, which is now before the courts, was out of his hands.
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He said he had no control over making bank accounts public and has urged that the judicial process be allowed to unfold. The Financial Intelligence Center (FIC) opposes the opening of the documents.
“The bank statements are from accounts that I have no control over. They belong to private entities and companies that I do not control and whose affairs are protected by the privacy laws of the country. Therefore, it is not in my power, ”Ramaphosa said.
The president said there are no laws regulating the financing of the party’s leadership internal races and that this is something that Parliament should perhaps consider.
When asked about allegations that the ANC received large donations from companies winning lucrative government tenders, Ramaphosa told the chamber that it was a matter of principle whether contract winners should be able to fund political parties and that the ANC was dealing with the topic.
“But in the end I would say that I think it is improper for any funder to say that ‘we are funding them, as long as they make sure we get that and that tender,'” he said.
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