Yet another president has to answer to the Public Protector - analyst

Political analyst Ralph Mathekga shares insight on reports that President Ramaphosa is meeting Mkhwebane over Bosasa loan.

According to reports, President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked to meet with Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to discuss payments that were made towards his election campaign by Bosasa.

Political analyst Ralph Mathekga says the president is currently under pressure to respond to these allegations because firstly, the state capture commission is underway and secondly, he has assumed what Matekga refers to as an "integrity ticket".

Whenever he speaks on public podiums he always presents himself as a man who takes this integrity ticket to fight against corruption and suddenly you have this issues which I think it's a blemish on what he wants to achieve.

Ralph Mathekga, Political analyst

The EFF, on the other hand, has threatened to disrupt the State of the Nation Adress if the president doesn't give a public explanation on the Bosasa matter.

I would not underestimate the EFF on this. Remember what they did regarding Nhlanhla Nene, they pushed and gave the finance minister an ultimatum and he left.

Ralph Mathekga, Political analyst

This is quite sad because South Africa has a second president consecutively who has to answer to the Public Protector when we are supposed to be talking about the new dawn.

Ralph Mathekga, Political analyst

Instances such as this actually raise concern on whether the new dawn is really a reality or we are just in a phase where politicians are just going to manage corruption and not necessarily extricate themselves from corruption.

Ralph Mathekga, Political analyst

Presidency spokesperson, Khusela Diko says, following the Q&A session in Parliament, the DA has laid complaints with the Public Protector. Mkhwebane responded by writing to the president, in which he wrote back and offered to meet with her to present his statement in response to the allegations.

He felt it was necessary to afford the Public Protector a meeting where he would set out his statement.

Khusela Diko, Spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa

The president respects the institutions that have been set up to support our democracy and that's why he felt it is necessary to subject himself to that process.

Khusela Diko, Spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa

Diko has confirmed that the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Busisiwe Mkhwebane is currently underway.

To hear the rest of the conversations, listen below:

This article first appeared on 702 : Yet another president has to answer to the Public Protector - analyst

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