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Here’s a full statement from Kobus Marais on the developments:
“More than 48 hours have passed since the scandalous revelation that ANC party officials used a state military plane as an ‘Uber’ towards Harare, on party business.
However, President Ramaphosa remains absolutely silent and ignores urgent calls to speak out and take action against these senior ANC cadres. Ramaphosa is the commander-in-chief of the SANDF and head of the ANC, for which he was ordered to make an urgent public statement about how his party has illegally profited from a state aircraft that he directs.
“Why is Ramaphosa still silent on this matter?
“Less than two weeks ago, Ramaphosa announced with great fanfare that the ANC will draw a line in the sand against corruption.
“However, the president has not said a single word about his party’s most recent transgression.
“In his letter to the ANC structures on Sunday 23 August, Ramaphosa lamented the fact that the ANC is in the dock for corruption ‘as defendant No. 1’.
“What emerges more clearly with each passing day is that Ramaphosa is powerless to stop rampant corruption and theft by the ANC, and the ANC will remain the number one defendant forever when it comes to corruption.
“I want to remind President Ramaphosa of the facts of this matter:
- A delegation of ANC members, led by Secretary General Ace Magashule, flew to Zimbabwe on a state-owned plane at the expense of taxpayers. It is a flagrant blurring of state and party lines and an abuse of the state machinery. It is equivalent to a robbery of the people, by the ANC;
- There is no answer to our question whether the delegation had the permission of the transport minister to make this trip, as dictated by the level 2 closure regulation. If it did, we ask for transparency and that the documentation be made public. Otherwise, ANC officials have violated lockdown regulations;
- There is no indication of who paid for the delegation’s accommodation and other expenses; and
- There is no clarity on the real purpose of the defense minister’s trip to Zimbabwe, since a previous meeting of the Sadc troika took place virtually.
“Ramaphosa can write a letter every day for the next decade about his commitment to eradicate corruption. But as long as he keeps quiet about incidents like this, they will be empty words. “
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