Tebogo Msimanga |
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is calling on Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka to disclose to the public whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to the 31 questions posed to him by the office on the 8th of June 2022.
The party said following the damning allegations by Arthur Fraser, which implicate Ramaphosa in money laundering, kidnapping and concealing of a crime through the use of state resources, the Office of the Public Protector received a complaint against the President.
In a statement, EFF Spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said Gcaleka, who has a history of connections with politicians from the ruling party, namely being an advisor to former Minister Malusi Gigaba, granted an irrational extension for Ramaphosa to respond, which was until the 18th of July 2022.
Tambo said today is the 19th of July 2022, and there has been no transparency by the Office of the Public Protector or the Presidency as to whether the deadline for compliance has been met. “As things stand, the people of South Africa are left to believe that Ramaphosa has no responded to the 31 questions, meaning that the President of South Africa is in breach of the Public Protector Act and in contempt of the Office of the Public Protector”.
The EFF reiterated that Ramaphosa must be compelled to answer the questions of the Public Protector regarding Phala Phala Farm.
“The lack of appetite by Kholeka Gcaleka to pursue accountability from the President confirms that she was placed in the role to capture that office and protect Ramaphosa. Her efforts in aiding this delay must be noted as part of a broader attempt to shield Ramaphosa from scrutiny”.
