(3 minutes read)
· South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged there had been rampant state corruption while he was the deputy to ex-president Jacob Zuma
· But he insisted that he did not resign as that would have hampered his efforts to resist the rot. Ramaphosa, who served four years as Zuma’s deputy was deposed before a judicial panel probing the alleged mass looting of state.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged there had been rampant state corruption while he was the deputy to ex-president Jacob Zuma. But he insisted that he did not resign as that would have hampered his efforts to resist the rot. Ramaphosa, who served four years as Zuma’s deputy was deposed before a judicial panel probing the alleged mass looting of state.
Ramaphosa deposed that he had five options: resign; speak out; acquiesce and abet; remain and keep silent; or remain and resist. Yet he maintained that had he quit his job, the action would have significantly impaired his ability to contribute to bring about an end to the graft. It is the second time that Ramaphosa is appearing before the panel.
This year, the country’s top court ordered Zuma to return ro court hearing. But he refused, and was last month handed a 15-month jail term for contempt. The inquiry is a result of a 2016 investigation by the country’s ombudswoman. The ombudswoman found evidence that Zuma allowed the Guptas, who won lucrative contracts with state companies, with his undue influence over the government. Ramaphosa came to power three and a half years ago on a vow to fight corruption.
