Bosasa brush-off ‘evasive’

● DA leader Mmusi Maimane has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of “dodging accountability” over a R3m donation to the ANC by controversial company African Global Operations, previously Bosasa.

Ramaphosa this week told Maimane in a letter that his questions to him over the R3m donation to the ANC fell outside “the mandate or responsibilities of the president of the Republic of South Africa”.

Maimane wrote to Ramaphosa last week, seeking his response to a follow-up question the DA leader asked in the National Assembly on August 22 over the Bosasa donation.

During that session of the house, Ramaphosa asked Maimane to hand over a letter drafted by former ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize in which he thanked Bosasa for the donation.

Maimane had confronted Ramaphosa with the letter during an oral question and answer session.

At the time, Ramaphosa said he wanted to reflect on the letter and the donation.

But now Ramaphosa has told Maimane that he will no longer entertain the issue in his capacity as president of the country.

“It is a party political issue and therefore any queries should be addressed to the party concerned,” said Ramaphosa in his response on Wednesday.

The president also told Maimane to present any evidence of wrongdoing in relation to the Bosasa donation to law enforcement agencies or the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture.

However, an unimpressed Maimane yesterday fired off another letter to Ramaphosa, accusing him of evading accountability. He threatened legal action over the matter.

Maimane disagreed with Ramaphosa, arguing that “this is not a matter of providing evidence of criminal wrongdoing to the relevant authorities”. “Your response is a clear case of dodging accountability. Our legal team will consider its options,” he wrote.