Ace’s future is matter for ANC, Ramaphosa tells MPs
As ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule today appears in court on corruption charges linked to the R255 million asbestos tender fraud scandal, President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday told parliament that Magashule’s political future was a matter for the governing party.
Responding to a supplementary question from Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen on why – if government was committed to rooting out corruption – Magashule remained ANC secretary-general, Ramaphosa said: “The issue of leaders of the ANC is a matter for the ANC.
“The ANC – through its own processes – is dealing with these matters. Let us wait for all these processes to unfold,” he said.
“In time, these matters will be addressed and everybody will get to know how the ANC is addressing those matters. Standing here, I am before you as president of the republic [of South Africa]. The matters that Mr Steenhuisen has referred to are matters of the ANC, which is dealing with them.”
It is expected that the corruption charges faced by Magashule are to be discussed at the next ANC national executive committee – the highest decision-making body between ANC national conferences – following the past resolution that those facing corruption charges should “step aside”.
Elaborating on strides taken by government in fighting corruption, Ramaphosa told MPs: “The fight against corruption and state capture has required extensive measures to stabilise and revitalise our law enforcement agencies with capable and ethical leadership able to restore the credibility of these vital institutions.
“Much work has been done to ensure these agencies have the personnel, skills and resources they need to undertake the demanding tasks of detecting, investigating and successfully prosecuting instances of corruption.”
He said “a crucial part” of this work had been to improve information sharing, coordination and cooperation among all law enforcement agencies and related institutions.
“This is evident in the revitalisation of the multi-agency Anti-Corruption Task Team, which currently has 223 prioritised cases at different stages of investigation and prosecution.”
Ramaphosa said in May, government established the fusion centre, based at the Financial Intelligence Centre, “which serves as an operational hub with dedicated resources to fight Covid-19-related corruption”.
“Since the beginning of this sixth administration, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – the Hawks – has established task teams to fast-track corruption investigations in municipalities, government and the private sector.
“Together with the National Prosecuting Authority, the Hawks have prioritised 10 priority corruption-related cases to fast track for investigation and prosecution.”
He said recent amendments to the regulations of the Commission of Inquiry into State
Capture allowed it to share information, records and documents directly with law enforcement agencies.
In dealing with corruption in state- owned enterprises, Ramaphosa said:
Passenger Rail Agency of SA is dealing with 28 matters referred to the SIU for investigation, with the Hawks probing a number of case dockets emanating from the public protector’s report on the agency. Transnet has established a case management platform involving the various law enforcement agencies in a bid to ensure recovery of losses and disciplinary action, which could also lead to criminal prosecution. Eskom has recommended 80 instances of criminal prosecution against employees.