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By ANA Reporter 
August 27, 2020
Durban – On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa considered the question of whether he supported former eThekwini mayor accused of corruption, Zandile Gumede, in his appointment to the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), asked Ramaphosa during a question and answer session in Parliament if he supported the appointment of the former mayor.
“Do you support the elevation of Zandile Gumede to the KZN legislature and if not, what are you going to do about it?” I ask.
Ramaphosa finally responded after Steenhuisen had to get up on a point of order because the president seemed confused.
“The matter is being discussed within the ANC structures. It is true that the matter has caused quite a bit of concern and the matter is being discussed within the ANC structures in a very democratic way, and it is left in the hands of those structures. matter, “Ramaphosa said.
Gumede is currently out on bail of R50,000 for his alleged role in a Durban solid waste tender scandal amounting to more than R400 million. She faces charges of fraud and corruption, along with 16 co-defendants that include councilors, officials and service providers.
Gumede has denied any involvement in the crimes, saying that she is being persecuted because she is a female leader and does not like the media.
She was appointed a member of the provincial legislature last week and this week she was appointed a member of the committee for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), which means she will have a say in how local government is run.
At first, Ramaphosa tried to answer the question in general terms, as he was dealing with questions about corruption in Covid-19 acquisitions.
Steenhuisen told the president that the ANC was “pathologically incapable of self-correction” as the party was introduced to the country by its leaders, before he asked about Gumede.
“You have been talking about corruption for many years, when you were vice president, when you were the head of government business. You defended (former president) Jacob Zuma throughout his term.”
Ramaphosa said he respected Steenhuisen’s “deep feeling about corruption.”
“And I also respect the fact that, as a South African citizen, he has spoken out about the concerns that he and many other South African citizens have about a series of missteps, missteps that have occurred in South Africa in dealing with corruption.”
The president went on to say that the corruption outrage related to the Covid-19 acquisition should be capitalized on “in terms of ensuring that we strengthen our resolve as a nation and country to end corruption.”
“Accusations of corruption have created a huge stench in our country, and our people are justifiably unhappy, angry and demoralized, and the spirit of the nation has truly plummeted.”
Comparing the country to a ship, Ramaphosa told Steenhuisen: “This Titanic is not sinking, if we were to see the steps we have taken. We are strengthening our resolve.
“For the first time, we have almost 11 agencies in government working together to tackle corruption; from a fiscal point of view, from a governmental point of view, we are going to make great progress ”.
Ramaphosa also said that it was not the duty of a president to arrest perpetrators of corruption.
“The day that happens, you have to run for the hills. The day you have a president investigating, prosecuting and arresting, you don’t have democracy.
“The president’s job is to ensure that institutions are strengthened and principles are adhered to. My task is not to go around investigating this one and that one. “
African News Agency (ANA)
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