President Cyril Ramaphosa won’t spur an impending impeachment.
He contravened the executive ethics code and then discharged babble-loaded spin to quash an indictment.
The manager was free to report whatever crime was committed at Phala Phala to the police.
But Ramaphosa chose a pell-mell rush for the deployment of his security detail. That created an impression of a well thought-out scheme to conceal a crime.
Typical of disguises, Ramaphosa claimed on various platforms that he was away on government business when the head of the presidential protection unit attended a scene of crime. Yet there’s no case docket, exposing his claim as ethically hollow.
Worse, fugitives are still at large with an undisclosed amount of cash from the sale of stock. A promise to find reconciled sales receipts to confirm money stolen metamorphosed into a sub judice. It resembled controversial ethical issues witnessed under his leadership of hiding behind the law.
Ramaphosa couldn’t begin to lead a renewal programme, even after a promise of a new dawn. Why should we trust anything from him?
Indifferent to criticism, former president Thabo Mbeki broke the silence to raise salient points on the need to make a course correction. It’s uncontestably vital to redeem the image and political hegemony of the movement in society.
Safe to say Dr Nkosazana DlaminiZuma remains a tried and tested cadre fit for purpose – unless there’s a reasoned explanation from those who call for Ramaphosa’s re-election.
It’s obvious that Ramaphosa won’t escape a grilling for stashing away cash in foreign currencies at his farm.
International authorities may quiz him and he will find himself in the headlines.
All this poses wider risks to stability and puts a damper on investor confidence, which will do more harm to the country.
* Morgan Phaahla, Ekurhuleni.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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