After this week’s sentencing of former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt – the focus has shifted to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign funds matter that is before the Constitutional Court.
Detractors allege Ramaphosa “bought” his way to the ANC presidency and they want the campaign records unsealed.
Ramaphosa rejects the claims but refuses to make public his bank records, citing donor requests to remain anonymous.
At the behest of the president’s lawyers, deputy judge president Aubrey Ledwaba sealed the bank statements from the public, saying if anyone wished to challenge this they could raise it “in court”.
The Concourt said it will deliver Judgment on Thursday on whether President Ramaphosa misled Parliament in relation to the donations made to the CR17 campaign.
The highest court in the land presided over by Acting Chief Justice Sisi Virginia Khampepe said it will also make a ruling on whether the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had the scope to investigate the CR17 Campaign.
“How I wish the ConCourt can unseal all CR17 bank statements so that we can get to know who were the generous donors who forked a cool billion rand to help win the ANC conference,” said Zvelinzima Vavi.
The general secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions added: “I hope they go a step further, to order that all candidates do the same”.
