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SAFRICA-POLITICS
S.Africa president to pay back $35,000 campaign funds
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa will pay back 500,000 rand ($35,000) donated to his campaign fund
by a firm with links to his son after admitting he misled parliament, an
official said.
Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on fighting corruption after his
predecessor Jacob Zuma was mired in graft scandals that finally led to his
ousting earlier this year.
Ramaphosa had told parliament that the payment in October 2017 was to his
son Andile for consultancy work for Bosasa, a company that has contracts with
government institutions.
But Ramaphosa later admitted it was a donation towards his own campaign
last year to become leader of the ruling ANC party, a hard-fought battle in
which he beat Zuma’s chosen candidate.
“The donation was made without his knowledge,” ANC official Zizi Kodwa
told the SABC state broadcaster on Saturday.
“He has decided voluntarily that he will pay back the said amount and he
will call for further investigation on all donations that were made to the
campaign.”
The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said Bosasa had won
lucrative government contracts, adding “this looks suspiciously like all
other ANC government corruption deals.”
A judicial inquiry is probing allegations that Zuma and some of his family
members oversaw a web of corrupt government contracts.
The ANC and Democratic Alliance will face off in elections next May.
BSS/AFP/RY/1535 hrs