Cyril distances ANC from Manyi remarks

DEPUTY President Cyril Ramaphosa has distanced the ANC from remarks by Progressive Professionals Forum president Mzwanele Jimmy Manyi that the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment (Fica) Bill would “bankrupt” the ruling party.

The Fica Bill, or “money laundering” bill, was unanimously adopted by the National Assembly on Tuesday, after initially being sent back to parliament by President Jacob Zuma.

This didn’t stop opposition MPs yesterday from quizzing Ramaphosa about the legislation and the submission made by Manyi.

During public hearings on the bill earlier this year, Manyi described the legislation as an attempt to “bankrupt” the ANC before the next national elections in 2019.

Manyi told MPs the bill would be used by detractors, whom he didn’t name, to embarrass and blacklist ANC donors “so that when we get to 2019 the ANC is as broke as hell”.

“We are going to be embarrassed because of this, this is a dangerous piece of legislation,” Manyi said.

Responding to a question from the EFF, Ramaphosa said as leader of government business, he never received a submission from Manyi.

“The answer is no, I did not receive such a submission.

“But I want to use this opportunity to commend all for unanimous adoption of bill.

“I don’t know what he’s [Manyi] talking about and clearly he’s not talking about the ANC that I lead and I know,” said Ramaphosa.

“The legislation that we voted on will significantly strengthen our ability to track money laundering and money used to fund terrorism.”

In a follow-up question, EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu was more specific, saying Manyi told the public hearings that the ANC was going to be broke as a result of the legislation.

“The question we had asked is that during submissions, a member of the public came to say that if this bill passed and signed into law the ANC is going to be broke,” Shivambu said.

“Basically intimating that the ANC benefits from the lack of legislation that seeks to combat money laundering and financing of terrorist activities.

“No member of the ANC in that committee objected to that [Manyi’s comment].

“He identified himself as a professional who represents the ANC.

“His name is Jimmy Manyi. He argued strongly that the ANC is going to be broke if this bill is passed,” said Shivambu.

Ramaphosa said the ANC does not rely on laundered money.

“The ANC for its finances does not rely on money that is filtered into the country by money laundering or financing of terrorist activities.

“We abhor money laundering,” said Ramaphosa. — TMG