Presidency adamant Ramaphosa did answer the question on Phala Phala

Ramaphosa is accused of dodgy a question on the Phala Phala scandal during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly. 

“On a proper reading of the question, President Ramaphosa did, in fact, answer the question,” reads a statement released by the Presidency on Wednesday. 

Ramaphosa told furious MPs accusing him of evading accountability on Tuesday “that it is best to address these matters [Phala Phala robbery] when those processes have been done.” 

ATM MP Vuyo Zungula posed the question of whether Ramaphosa considered it prudent to take the nation into his confidence on the serious allegations surrounding his Phala Phala farm. 

Ramaphosa responded: I stand ready, as people have said, to take the nation into my confidence. I stand ready to do so, to give an explanation. But for me, it has been important that I should give space, stand back and allow the various agencies to deal with these matters as thoroughly as I believe they are doing. 

READ THE QUESTION AND ANSWER BELOW: 

QUESTION: 

(1)    Whether, notwithstanding the ongoing investigations by the Hawks and the Acting Public Protector, he has considered it prudent to take the nation into his confidence on the serious allegations surrounding his Phala Phala farm (details furnished), by accounting to the people of South Africa and speaking on the specified issue in the National Assembly, where the elected representatives of the people can engage him on the scandal that has divided the country and caused immeasurable harm to the reputation of the Republic; 

(2)    whether with the benefit of hindsight, he has found that he could have responded differently to the serious allegations surrounding him with regard to the entire saga around his Phala Phala farm? 

REPLY: 

Honourable Members, 

I know there is a great deal of interest in my answer to this question and I’d like to say that, without appearing that I do not want to answer questions, that I do not want to be accountable, I should say that as I have indicated before – in written replies to Members of this House, in the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote and in statements on various public platforms – I stand ready to cooperate with any investigations on this matter. 

Investigations are ongoing by a variety of agencies and the focus that various agencies are putting on this matter demonstrates the importance of this matter and the way they are dealing with it. 

I have responded, and will continue to respond, to all the questions that have been put to me by the relevant authorities. 

In the course of what they are working on, the authorities have said that it is best if they deal with all these attendent matters relating to this theft that occurred at the farm, and be able to address every issue. I have been counselled and advised that it is best to address these matters when those processes have been done. I stand ready, as people have said, to take the nation into my confidence. I stand ready to do so, to give an explanation. But for me, it has been important that I should give space, stand back and allow the various agencies to deal with these matters as thoroughly as I believe they are doing. 

While there are clearly individuals and organisations that seek some mileage out of this issue, the most appropriate response from my side is for the law to take its course. 

It is important for me that due process is followed, including the process that is going to unfold in Parliament. I stand ready to cooperate with that process as well and will be ready to be fully accountable. 

I stand here as Cyril Ramaphosa not being unwilling to be accountable. I want to be fully accountable and I am saying once again that it is important, and those who are dealing with these matters have said it is important that we be given time and space to deal with all the aspects of this matter. 

I thank you. 

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