VBS query for Cyril on hold

Parliament has cancelled a session in which President Cyril Ramaphosa was expected to respond to questions from members of the house.

Yesterday, parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said that “based on medical advice”, Ramaphosa would not be able to appear before the National Assembly today.

“The sitting is, therefore, cancelled. A new date for the president’s oral question session will be determined by the National Assembly programming committee,” he said.

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has said he intended to ask Ramaphosa to explain allegations he “had prior knowledge of theft and looting at VBS Bank.

“I have therefore ... written to the speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, requesting that an urgent oral question to the president be added to Thursday’s Order Paper in terms of rule 141 of the National Assembly rules.

“I will ask him the following question: On what date did he (a) first become aware of the involvement of executives in corruption and looting at VBS Mutual Bank and (b) subsequently take action, if any, in this regard?”

The president has also cancelled a scheduled trip on Monday to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a binational commission.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko said: “President Ramaphosa was due to travel to Kinshasa on October 15, but was advised by doctors to recover from an upper respiratory tract infection before undertaking prolonged travel.

“He is receiving medical attention and making a good recovery.”

I will ask him the following question: On what date did he first become aware of the involvement of executives in corruption and looting at VBS Mutual Bank.