Picture: PresidencyZA/Twitter
IN HIS weekly Monday newsletter to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa completely omitted his views on the Phala Phala scandal that could lead to the end of his presidency and political career.
The country was expecting that Ramaphosa would use his weekly platform to take the nation into his confidence about the allegations surrounding him. Monday is also when the ANC NEC will make a decision on whether to back Ramaphosa in his fight to stay in office or force him to resign.
"The NPA, through the Investigating Directorate, the Asset Forfeiture Unit, and other structures, is successfully using preservation orders, asset forfeiture, and other tools to tighten the noose around those involved in corrupt activities," Ramaphosa said in his newsletter.
He said many of those involved in state capture and their enablers in the private sector saw nothing wrong with diverting public funds to private pockets.
"At the height of the state capture era, unscrupulous politicians re-purposed state institutions for private enrichment and to cover their tracks," he said.
Ramaphosa said South Africa had law enforcement authorities and a prosecuting authority devoted to investigating and prosecuting without fear or favour.
"We have state institutions committed to fulfilling their respective mandates regardless of the status or influence of any individual or a company."
He said that, as a society, South Africa needs to give these agencies and the people working in them our full support and encouragement.
"We need to guard against any efforts to weaken these institutions or undermine their resolve."
Ramaphosa said the country has, within a relatively short space of time, rebuilt the supporting architecture to investigate and prosecute serious corruption and other crimes.
"I have always said that the fight against corruption will not be won easily or quickly, given how many years it took for patronage and graft to become entrenched. Now that we see that progress is being made, we must do everything we can to ensure that this work continues unhindered and that none of the gains we have made are reversed," he said.