Cape Town - Under-fire President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to be confronted about several issues, including the Phala Phala Farmgate scandal, illegal migration and intensifying the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) among others, during questions in Parliament.
Ramaphosa will appear before the National Assembly (NA) in a hybrid plenary on Tuesday to answer questions for oral reply.
Up to six questions are expected to be answered during the three-hour session.
Ramaphosa remains in the spotlight over the theft at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo where millions of dollars were stolen, apparently concealed in furniture.
Despite no case having being opened with the police at the time, the suspects were allegedly kidnapped, tortured and bribed for their silence.
African Transformation Movement leader, Vuyo Zungula, who has been among opposition parties leading the charge to have the President held accountable in light of the serious allegations, wants Ramaphosa to answer, “whether, notwithstanding the ongoing investigations by the Hawks and the Acting Public Protector, he has considered it prudent to take the nation into his confidence on the serious allegations surrounding his Phala Phala farm (details furnished), by accounting to the people of South Africa and speaking on the specified issue in the National Assembly, where the elected representatives of the people can engage him on the scandal that has divided the country and caused immeasurable harm to the reputation of the Republic?”
Meanwhile DA leader John Steenhuisen has accused Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula of “shielding” Ramaphosa from accountability, in refusing to allow him to submit an urgent question.
“I wanted to ask President Ramaphosa to clarify his recent statement under oath that the Zondo Commission recommendations are ‘not binding’.
“South Africa needs to know that the process to end state capture is on track and that the R1 billion plus of public money that paid for the Zondo Commission into State Capture was not for mere advice and not spent in vain.
“The president is due to table his plan for implementing Zondo’s recommendations in October. South Africa needs to put maximum pressure on him to do the right thing by the country and implement the recommendations without fear or favour,” he said.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said in terms of the rules, questions to the president must be submitted to the Speaker at least 16 days before the day on which they are to be answered, for the Speaker’s approval.
“In her reply to Mr Steenhuisen, the Speaker pointed out that the regime for urgent questions is also regulated in terms of documented practice contained in the Guide to Procedure, 2004, which defines rules, and states that a request of that nature will not be granted if the matter can be considered by some other means in the near future.
“The DA has another opportunity to ask a question to the president on September 29, in addition to opportunities at the disposal of the party to put written question to the president.”
Cape Times