LETTER: Release Phala Phala report

A full high court bench has declared President Cyril Ramaphosa’s suspension of public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane invalid, saying: “In our view, the hurried nature of the suspension ... in the circumstances, notwithstanding that a judgment of the full court was looming on the same subject matter, leads this court to an ineluctable conclusion that the suspension may have been retaliatory and hence, unlawful.” ("High court sets aside Mkhwebane’s suspension by Ramaphosa”, September 9).

Ramaphosa is under excruciating pressure from the public and political parties over the Phala Phala scandal, in which it is alleged that he concealed a crime that happened there, breaking the law and contravening his oath of office. Before Ramaphosa assumed office we were sold the notion of an accountable leader who despised wrongdoing, a dream of a people’s servant (Thuma mina!). But over time we have learnt that this was not true.

In other accountability processes not related to the public protector, such as parliament and the ANC integrity committee,  Ramaphosa refuses to answer questions concerning Phala Phala, citing the sub judice rule. So much for an accountable and morally compassed leader. But whether Mkhwebane returns to office or not Ramaphosa will still have to answer to the incompetent deputy protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, who has already missed the deadline to release the Phala Phala scandal report.

Someone in Ramaphosa’s circle must advise him to subject himself to all of these processes so that he can be exonerated. The more he plays cat and mouse the more suspicions of wrongdoing will grow. Ramaphosa was supposed to be the leader who would redeem the ANC in the eyes of the public.

Gcaleka must prove her competence by showing that the Chapter 9 institution she now heads will not be used to suppress accountability. Her overdue report must be released.

Mpumelelo Peter
Via email

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