Ramaphosa hits out at Mkhwebane over leaking of bank statements

In a statement released late on Saturday, the Presidency said confidential banking information about the financial contributors to his 2017 presidential campaign had been leaked to the media. 

"The information, supposedly held only by the Public Protector, includes bank statements of third parties, which record private transactions and which are strictly confidential," said Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Khusela Diko.

"This is all the more troubling as it seems clear that this information had been, from the first instance, obtained in an illegal manner.

"The selective circulation of this banking information is clearly intended to cast aspersions on the President".

On Thursday, Ramaphosa’s legal team requested the high court in Pretoria to seal certain information contained in the record of the public protector’s report on Bosasa.

READ: Ramaphosa wants court to seal some documents in Bosasa report

"This request is pending a determination on whether the information was obtained lawfully and whether it was lawfully sourced in relation to the complaint under investigation," Diko explained.

Ramaphosa and Mkhwebane have been at odds since the public protector published a report that found that Ramaphosa misled Parliament in his response to a question about a R500,000 donation from Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson for his CR17 campaign.

"Neither the President nor the campaign has done anything wrong, ethically or legally," said Diko.

"It is a common and accepted practice in South Africa and across the world for parties and candidates to raise funding from donors for campaigns.

"It was agreed that the campaign would raise funds from private individuals who supported the effort to restore the integrity and cohesion of the ANC and to put South Africa back on a path of growth and transformation, with an explicit understanding that their contribution would earn them no special favours or undue advantage.

"The donations were made on a confidential basis,” Diko concluded.

The Public Protector's office has meanwhile lashed out at claims that Mkhwebane obtained information illegally.  

Mkhwebane's spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, remains adamant that the investigation was above board.

READ: Public Protector denies 'unlawful' investigation into Ramaphosa 

"She always acts within the law. I don't understand why anyone would suggest that the Public Protector is conducting investigations above the law whereas the Public Protector act is clear," says Segalwe.