Cape Town - National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula should follow in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s footsteps and immediately release the eagerly awaited independent panel’s report into whether the president has a case to answer over the Phala Phala Farmgate scandal.
The panel of experts led by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo is expected to submit its report to Mapisa-Nqakula on Thursday.
The report could be a turning point for Ramaphosa’s presidency, who has yet to provide the public with clear answers on why so much money, in foreign currency, was not banked.
All that we know so far is that the president did not report a crime that took place on his private property. He only came out to speak vaguely about it when a criminal complaint was lodged against him.
We also know that Ramaphosa told his Limpopo comrades that he is a farmer who sells and buys animals, and that’s where he apparently made the millions of US dollars.
The money was stolen after a gang of Namibians broke into his farm.
We are also aware that Ramaphosa suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane a day after she confirmed she was probing the scandal and had sent him 31 questions on the matter.
All the other agencies probing him have continuously refused to disclose the details of their investigations or how long they may take to complete.
The spotlight now falls on Mapisa-Nqakula who will be tasked with handling the release of the panel’s report upon receiving it. Some will say it is rather a straightforward task if she follows on Ramaphosa’s stance in releasing to the public the Zondo commission of inquiry reports immediately after receiving them.
That would also be living up to Ramaphosa’s promise of transparency and accountability in his so-called new dawn. The African Transformation Movement, whose motion led to the establishment of the panel, has already demanded that Mapisa-Nqakula should not delay the release of the report – whatever the outcome.
The people’s Parliament has for the longest time under ANC rule been embroiled in party factionalism. Riding itself of that dark cloud will not happen by just saying it, but through its actions. Our democratic institutions should serve all of us equally.
Mapisa-Nqakula should do the right thing, and she knows what that is.
Cape Times