SIYABONGA SITHOLE
The leader of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), Vuyo Zungula, expressed frustration at the recent postponement of a meeting between the party and Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka. Zungula and his team were supposed to meet Gcaleka on Monday, August 8. That meeting did not take place as Gcaleka said she could not make it. She did not give a reason.
Zungula had proposed a meeting with the acting public protector and her team to discuss, among other things, the party's complaints regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa's impeachment process and the president's alleged breach of the Executive Members Ethics Act and the delayed report which was sealed by the public protector.
In a tweet, Zungula said he was disappointed about the postponement. “Sadly, the ATM is forced to postpone this engagement because advocate Gcaleka is not making herself available and her juniors who she delegated are saying their availability is only on a virtual basis. The ATM is insisting on a physical meeting,” he said.
Speaking to The Star, ATM spokesperson Sibusiso Mncube said a new date for the meeting had not been given.
This week, the party said it found it odd that Gcaleka had sealed the answers furnished by the president on the issue of Phala Phala but had made the responses of the head of the presidential protection unit, Wally Rhoode, and those of police commissioner Fannie Masemola public.
“The ATM finds it very disturbing that advocate Gcaleka has directed the sealing of only president Ramaphosa's answers but not of some of the main actors like general Rhoode and commissioner Masemola. Is this to channel the narrative? Is this to shield Ramaphosa?” Zungula asked.