Cyril calls for capture probe

THURSDAY JUNE 15 2017 THE AUTHENTICITY of allegations of the capture of South Africa’s state-owned enterprises should be probed urgently by a “competent body” and, if found to be true, people should be punished, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Replying to questions in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said an inquiry had the support of everybody, “from the president down”, and would allow the guilty to be brought to book and the innocent to clear their names.

“The veracity of the claims needs to be established. Where crime has been committed, those responsible must be prosecuted and be brought to book.”

Ramaphosa said President Jacob Zuma was speaking to his lawyers about a proposal which had found favour with many within the ruling party and its alliance partners.

“He has the power to establish such a commission in terms of Section 84 (f ) of the constitution and he has indicated that he’s not opposed to the establishment of a commission of inquiry, and as we speak now, he’s consulting his legal advisers to find ways of giving effect to this proposal,” said Ramaphosa.

“The allegations are clearly a matter of grave concern to many South Africans. State capture, in whatever form it takes, is abhorrent and should not, and cannot, be tolerated.”

The national executive committee of the ANC at the end of May said it backed the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe widespread allegations that business is exercising undue influence over the state. Zuma has denied opposing a probe but is challenging former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on state capture in court.

Madonsela directed that a commission of inquiry be established and headed by a judge appointed by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

The president is on record as saying he is only opposed to her remedial action because, under the constitution, only he has the authority to convene a judicial commission. – ANA