PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa will not have to appear before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts to answer questions relating to the misuse of public funds.
This after the ANC voted against inviting him to clarify his written responses before the standing committee on public accounts.
They have now opted to wait for the release of the third part of the State Capture Commission report.
A leaked audio clip suggests Ramaphosa knowingly used and allowed the misuse of state funds for his CR17 campaign.
In his last week’s written reply to the committee, Ramaphosa claims to not have direct knowledge of the misuse of funds and rather advises it to await the final release of the Zondo commission report, where some of the allegations were raised.
The president said the details and extent of the misuse of public funds will no doubt become clear once the commission of inquiry’s final report is submitted.
During Wednesday’s meeting, parliament’s legal adviser Fatima Ebrahim read out legal advice which agreed with Ramaphosa that the committee should wait for the final Zondo report.
The advice suggested the creation of a subcommittee to deal with the matter because it involves the State Security Agency — but that part of the legal advice was rejected by political parties.
ANC MPs supported the legal advice while opposition parties insisted Ramaphosa be called to answer to Scopa.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it will explore other options to have Ramaphosa answer to the committee.
- * Inside Politics
