MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, is scheduled to make a statement this Sunday on the major corruption investigation that is being carried out against the South African authorities, after the commission in charge of the investigations accused him of keeping silent in the face of ongoing crimes for his time as vice president and that his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, publicly accused him of being a “traitor” in the case of concealment of assets that affects the current president.
The commission headed by chief magistrate Raymond Zondo has accused Ramaphosa of looking the other way during the five years he served as Zuma’s deputy, while officials of the ruling party, the African National Congress, practiced corruption.
If Ramaphosa had “spoken out strongly against these misdeeds, it would have given hope to many other cabinet members who may have been looking for someone to lead,” according to the Zondo report’s findings.
To this must be added the scandal that broke out in the summer when the former head of national espionage, Arthur Fraser, an ally of Zuma, filed a complaint with the Police against Ramaphosa, for concealing the theft of four million euros hidden on his property.
Among those involved in the investigation are allies of Ramaphosa such as the Minister of Energy, Gwede Mantashe, or the Deputy Minister of State, Zizi Kodwa, accused of collecting bribes from companies in exchange for the award of state contracts.
Both have denied any involvement while Ramaphosa has indicated that he will not take any action until the judicial process against both ends its course, according to presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya, in statements collected by Bloomberg.
In this context, the South African Presidency announced this Sunday the imminent presentation of a 76-page document on Ramaphosa’s plans to fight internal corruption. The president, in addition, will address the nation tonight to explain his initiative in his own voice, according to the presidential note, without giving details about the time of the appearance.
