In his first parliamentary questions and answer session, Deputy President Paul Mashatile dismissed suggestions that president Cyril Ramaphosa is being protected from answering questions on the Phala Phala farm scandal.
Mashatile appealed to the MPs to trust the processes that were put in place to deal with the matter.
“The president has expressed his commitment to cooperate fully with all the investigations. I think sometimes we are in a hurry to see the President guilty without going through due processes.
“We are a democracy and we have set up independent institutions to investigate. Nobody is interfering with them and I can assure you that they are doing their work without fear or favour,” he said.
In a leaked report to the media, the acting Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka said there was no basis to conclude that Ramaphosa contravened the Executive Ethics Code.
Implicated parties and individuals were given 10 days to make a representation after her interim report cleared Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in the robbery at his farm.
The ATM met the acting Public Protector’s deadline and submitted a rebuttal in response to the Interim Report.
‘’The ATM pointed out errors in law, substandard analysis and matters that risk putting the integrity and credibility of this Chapter 9 Institution, the Public Protector in disrepute as they shield Mr Ramaphosa from accountability’’, said the party’s spokesperson Zama Ntshona.
Ntshona also emphasised some key points in their submission. “The ATM further provided elucidation on the four points, contained in the impeachment motion, namely paid work, exposing himself to risk of conflict, and the violation of Exchange Control Regulation,’’ he added.
The party said it hoped Advocate Gcaleka will apply the law rationally and impartially and reach a different conclusion that will avoid unnecessary court review processes.
The DA also made an assurance to explore other means to hold Ramaphosa accountable in the matter after parliament rejected their motion to establish an Ad-hoc committee.
