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SAFRICA-POLITICS
S.African president under investigation over graft allegations
JOHANNESBURG, June 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa is under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog
over a 500,000 rand ($35,000) donation to his campaign fund from a company
facing extensive graft allegations, the presidency said Wednesday.
Ramaphosa, who was re-elected last month, has staked his reputation on
fighting corruption in a nation smarting from the graft scandal-tainted
tenure of his predecessor Jacob Zuma.
But his party has continued to face wideranging corruption claims against
senior figures and even the president himself.
The inquiry against him centres on opposition complaints over a payment
from Bosasa, a company that corruptly won huge government tenders under
Zuma’s tenure.
According to the South African presidency, the country’s ombudswoman
Busisiwe Mkhwebane has issued Ramaphosa with a notice to respond to
allegations that he violated the executive ethics code.
“It is served on an individual when they are implicated in an adverse or
detrimental manner in a current investigation,” the president’s spokeswoman
Khusela Diko said.
Ramaphosa has told parliament that the payment in October 2017 was to his
son Andile for consultancy work for Bosasa, which was renamed African Global
Operations.
But he later said it was a donation towards his own campaign to become
leader of the ruling ANC party, a hard-fought battle in which he beat Zuma’s
chosen candidate.
Ramaphosa, who promised to pay back the campaign funds, has until 21 June
to respond to Mkhwebane.
Diko said the President will be allowed to question the complainant, leader
of the official opposition Mmusi Maimane and other witnesses.
The ANC, which has ruled since the end of apartheid, battled numerous
corruption scandals under Zuma.
Recent years have also seen the country struggle with sluggish economic
growth, record unemployment levels creeping towards 30 percent, poor service
delivery and poverty.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1942 hrs