Ramaphosa’s silent crisis patterns of impunity in his inner circle
Mathipa Phishego
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledges to usher in a “new dawn” of moral leadership and institutional revitalisation have left South Africa with troubling doubts over the coherence of his anti-corruption program. The president, who was elected due to popular dissatisfaction with state capture and pervasive corruption, has been accused of ignoring wrongdoing in his own Cabinet on numerous occasions. A trend seems to be
developing, from Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to the most recent accusations against Senzo Mchunu, which raises the possibility that Ramaphosa is more concerned with maintaining political allegiance than maintaining accountability.
Ntshavheni has one of the most influential portfolios as Minister in the Presidency. However, concerning rumours of procurement violations during her tenure as Communications Minister have persisted without any visible investigation or public censure. Ramaphosa has not publicly
acknowledged the allegations or started open procedures to elucidate her stance, despite growing concerns expressed by opposition MPs and monitoring organisations. The arrest of former Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa was perhaps the most obvious inconsistency in Ramaphosa’s alleged anti-corruption posture. Kodwa was accused of corruption in connection with the Zondo Commission’s findings, and he was only removed from office after the pressure from the public and the judicial system became intolerable. Despite the growing evidence, many questioned
why Ramaphosa kept him in Cabinet for such a long time.
Multiple claims concerning dubious spending, particularly in relation to local government initiatives, have named Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, the Deputy Minister of Energy, and Thembi Nkadimeng, the Minister of Cooperative government and Traditional Affairs. However, the Presidency has not seen to take any steps to resolve these issues or initiate internal investigations. For years, Police Minister Bheki Cele has been at the centre of controversy, from public outcry over his confrontational approach to
police to accusations regarding procurement contracts during his tenure as National Commissioner. Even as crime rates rose and public confidence in SAPS reached all-time lows, Ramaphosa has continuously supported Cele.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, is the most recent individual being investigated. Mismanagement and irregular contract awarding within the Department are allegedly the subject of reports; these problems are reminiscent of the systemic decay that afflicted the Zuma years. Although a comprehensive
investigation is still necessary to determine the truth of these charges, Ramaphosa’s office’s tardiness is creating concerns.
Image: AwakeMzansi on Facebook
Caption: A picture symbolizing president Ramaphosa’s silence to Senzo Mchunu’s allegations.