The unblemished record of a loyal ANC cadre

Ramaphosa has no case to answer on his personal finances or his recent statements, writes Ronnie Mamoepa

IN “Ramaphosa’s chances in succession battle are grim” (April 3), Jan-Jan Joubert makes a number of assertions that are fatally flawed and incorrect. These misrepresentations cannot be left unchallenged lest they become treated as fact.

At the outset, let me state there is no truth to Joubert’s suggestion that “questions about Ramaphosa’s coal interests raised by the DA also remain largely unanswered”.

There is no parliamentary question regarding alleged impropriety around the supply of coal to Eskom, raised by the DA or other sectors, that remains unanswered.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s record in dealing with his parliamentary responsibilities as leader of government business and in responding to all parliamentary questions remains unblemished.

His financial interests have been disclosed in accordance with the Executive Ethics Code protocol and the parliamentary process and are accordingly in the public domain, but Joubert has chosen not to cite this, seemingly to blemish the reputation of the deputy president.

In response to a DA question regarding the suitability of Deputy President Ramaphosa to lead the Eskom War Room arising from his previously held interest in the Shanduka Group, Ramaphosa’s office stated unequivocally that he “divested his financial interests in Shanduka following his assumption of office. Consequently, he holds no mining interests.” This was stated publicly last year and also in a statement on November 26 2014: “Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has now formally advised the director-general in the Presidency and secretary of cabinet, Dr Cassius Lubisi, of the steps he has taken to comply with rule 3.6 of the Executive Ethics Code. The code requires that members of the executive dispose of assets that may give rise to a conflict of interest.”

Earlier, in July 2014, President Jacob Zuma had granted the deputy president an extension to dispose of or place under independent control any assets that may give rise to a conflict of interest with his duties. He met the deadline and released a statement noting that “certain elements of the disposal are dependent on regulatory approval. Deputy President Ramaphosa’s remaining business interests in unregulated sectors are being placed in a trust managed by independent and professional persons.”

These facts are not only available to the public through the Presidency website but have also been placed at the disposal of Joubert, who is part of a Presidency media database.

Christians are prone to making the suggestion that one should not use the name of God in vain. May I paraphrase this to suggest that one should not use the name of the ANC in vain, particularly when you have never been a member and are therefore simply speculating.

I am not suggesting that no one but members of the ANC can provide an analysis of its developments. What I am suggesting is that membership of the organisation provides one with better insight into its structures and processes.

The deputy president did not join the organisation with a view to the presidency or to build constituencies for his benefit. As the deputy president has continuously stated, the responsibility of choosing leaders of the organisation is a prerogative of the basic units of the movement, namely the branches of the ANC.

Members of this organisation are not in the habit of building constituencies for individuals but have dedicated themselves to the building of a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic society based on the ideals enunciated in the Freedom Charter and elaborated upon in the National Development Plan.

The principle of democratic centralism requires that once a decision is made by the constitutional structures of the movement, it is binding on all members

It is in this regard that statements made by the deputy president regarding state capture and the judgment of the Constitutional Court on Nkandla, including the need for the majority of our people to participate in the commanding heights of our economy, represent a reflection of the views and decisions of constitutional structures of the ANC, rather than an attempt to build a constituency with a view to becoming the leader of our movement, or electioneering.

Indeed, the statements the deputy president has made on these issues were within the framework of the dictates of our organisational constitution, which enjoins every member to “defend the unity and integrity of the organisation and its principles”.

Mamoepa is the spokesman for Ramaphosa