President’s response regarding light punishment for Deputy Minister Dipuo Peters demonstrates that ANC embraces corruption

19 March 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa's contemptuous response regarding the light punishment, of a month-long suspension, for Deputy Minister Dipuo Peters demonstrates that government is not serious about eradicating corruption and shamelessly protects its cadres.

Despite facing serious charges, Peters, currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, was suspended for only a month for violating Parliament's Ethical Code while serving as Minister of Transport.

President Ramaphosa's reply to the FF Plus's question about the light punishment, during today's question-and-answer session, was evasive and vague.

Only after Dr Groenewald asked the President not to evade the question, did he respond by saying that he had decided on the punishment and deemed it sufficient.

The President's attitude proves that the ANC has totally lost its moral compass.

Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests found, among other things, that Peters had failed to appoint a CEO for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), and that she dismissed the PRASA board chaired by Popo Molefe after it had instituted investigations into corruption. (Firing of Prasa board reckless, says chairman Popo Molefe: BusinessLIVE: 9-3-2017.)

She also failed to investigate the allegation that Swifambo Rail unlawfully channelled R79 million in PRASA funds to the ANC's coffers, and she used PRASA buses for ANC events in 2014 and 2015.

These and other allegations are serious, and the President should have dismissed her at once based on the Committee's recommendations.

The conduct of ministers and deputy ministers should at all times be above reproach so that the public does not lose faith in government.

This, however, shows that government will tolerate fraud and corruption, and even protect offenders as long as it benefits the ANC. South Africa cannot afford another term under the rule of a government of gangsters.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 19 March 2024