Madonsela believes Ramaphosa will tell truth at Zondo commission
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela believes President Cyril Ramaphosa will tell the truth when he testifies at the commission of inquiry into state capture.
Ramphosa is expected to testify at the commission on Wednesday and Thursday in his capacity as leader of the African National Congress (ANC).
Madonsela says although Ramaphosa is not a key witness, his appearance at the commission is significant as his party is heavily implicated in state capture.
“I am not sure if it’s going to be the most important testimony given the fact that in terms of the core business of the commission. President Ramaphosa is not implicated or a key witness, however, there is importance in his appearance in that he is the president of the governing party and a lot of the people who are implicated, including former president Jacob Zuma, belong to his party.
“Secondly, he was the deputy president of the African National Congress for part of the period in which allegations that president Zuma either turned a blind eye as the Gupta family working with his son captures and repurposed part of the government for their own business interests.”
Madonsela says she believes Ramaphosa will tell the truth.
“He is definitely going to tell us the truth because whatever he will tell us will be of public interest and will be known by ANC members. He has no reason not to tell us the truth because his own members will contradict him if he did not tell the truth.”
She adds that Ramaphosa, as deputy president, did not have any powers to act against Jacob Zuma.
“Knowing what I know about the powers of the deputy president I wouldn’t say he failed us. I would expect him to whisper truth to power but I would not expect him to boldly take the stand publicly against the number one, it just doesn’t work like that. The deputy president serves at the pleasure of the president and he takes up tasks that have been delegated by the president.”
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