Mkhwebane Did Not Have Powers To Investigate CR17 Campaign Funds Saga

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa did not deliberately mislead Parliament about donations to his CR17 campaign, according to a ruling by the Constitutional Court on Thursday.

Justice Chris Jafta said Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who investigated the matter, got the facts and law wrong.

“Therefore, the Public Protector was wrong on the facts and the law with regards to the issue whether the president had willfully misled Parliament and the high court was right to set aside her finding,” the judge said.

“There is no merit in the argument advanced by [the Public Protector and the EFF]. Both the Constitution and the Public Protector Act do not empower the Public Protector to investigate private affairs of political parties. Political parties do not perform a public function or exercise a public power as it is a private affair not a state affair.”

Ramaphosa’s campaign gathered in excess of R300 million and his detractors