South African President grilled over COVID-19 graft scandals

Johannesburg, August 27

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday confronted powerful questioning by lawmakers over COVID-19 corruption scandals, days after he requested ruling social gathering members to chorus from stealing cash meant for the poor.

Many South Africans have been dismayed to see the nation’s widespread graft drawback infiltrate efforts to cease the unfold of the coronavirus. South Africa has the world’s fifth largest virus caseload with greater than 600,000 confirmed infections.

Ramaphosa promised to overtake the federal government’s procurement system, which he mentioned was susceptible to corruption. “Clearly, this COVID second has given us the chance” for change, he said, promising “a much more effective” system.

It was his first question-and-answer session with lawmakers since corruption allegations had been leveled towards high-ranking officers within the authorities and the ruling African National Congress social gathering.

Graft claims associated to the nation’s $26 billion social reduction bundle for the pandemic, which included the acquisition of huge quantities of private protecting tools, have rocked the nation. Ramaphosa’s personal spokeswoman, Khusela Diko, was positioned on depart as a result of allegations.

The provincial well being minister of the nation’s financial hub, Gauteng province, Bandile Masuku, additionally has been positioned on depart after being linked to corruption claims.

The chief of the official opposition, the liberal Democratic Alliance social gathering, criticised Ramaphosa for permitting the previous mayor of eThekwini municipality, Zandile Gumede, to be appointed as a provincial lawmaker regardless of going through corruption prices.

Ramaphosa has been accused of being delicate on corruption amid considerations that implicating too many senior leaders of the ANC may cut up the ruling social gathering.

The President mentioned the issues of the previous mayor and his spokeswoman are being investigated by the related entities, which is able to advise him on the suitable motion to take.

Having secured the presidency on an anti-corruption ticket after predecessor Jacob Zuma was pressured to resign amid a number of scandals in 2018, Ramaphosa has been beneath stress to indicate that his authorities is taking a tricky stance on the scourge.

This week his letter to ANC social gathering members cited “clear progress” for the reason that election, however he scolded: “Today, the ANC and its leaders stand accused of corruption. The ANC could not stand alone within the dock, but it surely does stand as accused No 1.”

Leftist opposition social gathering chief Julius Malema known as on Ramaphosa to scrap the present procurement system and set up particular courts that may take care of corruption instances, following the mannequin that was used to prosecute crimes dedicated in the course of the 2010 FIFA World Cup that was held in South Africa.

Corruption instances could be handled swiftly beneath that mannequin, Malema mentioned.

The COVID-19 corruption scandals dominated Thursday’s session with lawmakers, however Ramaphosa additionally was taken to job over the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa and the nation’s dire financial state of affairs.

South Africa slipped into recession earlier than the pandemic lockdown that began in March, and its unemployment fee is now above 30 per cent. AP