Cyril sketches graft fighting reforms
For South Africans to elect their president directly was one of the Zondo Commission recommendations that President Cyril Ramaphosa ran by the nation on Sunday night.
Another was a complete revamp of the structures to enourage and protect whistleblowers, and a third was having a permanent investigating unit in the NPA.
Addressing the nation on Sunday evening, Ramaphosa said political parties presented in parliament should discuss a way forward regarding the recommendations.
Ramaphosa had on Sunday submitted his reply to the Zondo Commission recommendations to the National Assembly.
The report had touched on a number of issues, including corruption at the country’s SOES and government departments that has come close to collapsing institutions like the NPA, SARS, Eskom, SAA, Denel and Prasa.
“The commission made recommendations for the consideration of far-reaching reforms to the country’s electoral system as well,” he said.
“These reforms include the direct election of the president and the adoption of a constituency-based but still proportionally representative electoral system.
“These proposals are meant to address weaknesses in the ability of parliament and its elected officials to provide sufficient oversight to prevent state capture.
“Due to the far-reaching consequences of the recommendations on electoral reform, and the fact that they would require constitutional amendments, it is appropriate that they are considered by the political parties represented in parliament and form part of an extensive process of consultation that involves the whole of society,” said Ramaphosa.
He said the consultations should take account of the broad-based engagements that took place across SA in the drafting of the constitution, as some profound changes to the constitution were anticipated.
“The State Capture Commission made several detailed recommendations with respect to procurement reform, which we support and accept, and are working to put into effect,” he added.