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‘The Star’ reported on Monday that the president was behind the moves to arrest Busisiwe Mkhwebane before he published his report in which he is being investigated for approving the controversial ANC trip to Zimbabwe on an Air Force plane in September. .
President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG – The Presidency has dismissed a report in The star on Monday President Cyril Ramaphosa is “plotting” to have Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane arrested for perjury as a “total fabrication” without any factual basis.
The newspaper reported that the president was behind the moves to arrest Mkhwebane before he published his report in which he is under investigation for approving the controversial September African National Congress (ANC) trip to Zimbabwe on an Air Force plane. to meet with Zanu. PF.
The star quoted a source as claiming that Mkhwebane was expected last week to file a warning statement at the Hillbrow Police Station after Hawks boss Godfrey Lebeya instructed him to provide the statement on a criminal complaint of perjury and defeat the ends of justice against him. by the non-governmental organization Accountability Now, in August 2019.
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The anonymous Hillbrow SAPS source revealed that if Mkhwebane were criminally charged, the president would suspend her because the statement would act as an admission of guilt in the alleged plot to remove her from office.
An individual from Ramaphosa’s office also tried to pressure the police to arrest Mkhwebane before January 13, according to the publication.
But the Presidency said in a statement that the allegations were simply false and the newspaper did not provide evidence to support the claims.
“President Ramaphosa has no knowledge of or involvement in the matters referred to in the article,” said Acting Presidential Spokesperson Tyrone Seale.
“The star makes very serious assertions about the president’s conduct without any factual basis. It is irresponsible and reckless journalism that deserves to be discarded. “
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The perjury case followed the Constitutional Court ruling in July 2019, which found Mkhwebane to be dishonest in her investigation into the apartheid-era loan from the Reserve Bank of South Africa (Sarb) to Absa. The higher court also awarded him punitive costs in his personal capacity.
Seale said Ramaphosa was firmly committed to the rule of law and due process.
“He has never interfered and will never interfere in any criminal investigation or other legal process,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Mkhwebane spokesperson told _The Star _ that he was only aware of a request for a warning statement the Hawks made earlier this year in January, which stated at the time that he would exercise his right not to do .
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