Corruption Watch: South Africans deserve answers on Phala Phala
Corruption Watch says South Africans deserve answers as the fallout from the report into the Phala Phala scandal dragged into Friday.
The report by an independent parliamentary panel concluded that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have committed serious violations of the constitution and anti-corruption laws.
The organisation’s executive director Karam Singh says the findings have grave implications for the president’s ability to maintain the public’s trust.
"There is no room for unnecessary delays by either implicated parties or regulatory and law enforcement bodies, that could potentially derail the process and disrupt the momentum. In a country beset by corruption scandals over a protracted period of time that have eroded institutions, hollowed out the economy and seriously impacted service delivery, South Africans deserve answers.
“For a president to be charged with such serious violations of the laws of the land is yet another crisis for a country already struggling to overcome a slew of challenges, many of them related to corruption. It is imperative that the democratic process is allowed to unfold, and that no-one is allowed to act with impunity.”
Singh says the rule of law must treat all South Africans the same.
“We do not have a stellar record of members of the executive being held to account for their actions, and there is far too much evidence of people acting with impunity. It is supremely important that the president, who holds the highest office in the land, is held to the same standards and processes as everyone else."
On a possible resignation, Singh says it should be done in the name of accountability and democratic governance principles.
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