South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday won the latest round of a legal battle with the country’s anti-corruption watchdog, reported Reuters. The judge reportedly delayed implementation of findings linked to the anti-corruption body’s claim that he misled parliament about a donation made to his leadership campaign.
Last month, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane alleged that Ramaphosa had misled Parliament about the $32,500 donation for the 2017 campaign to succeed Jacob Zuma as head of the governing African National Congress (ANC). Mkhwebane said there was evidence of money laundering involving millions of rand in the handling of donations for the campaign.
Ramaphosa called the report flawed and during the court hearing on Monday, he was granted an interdict against the implementation of the watchdog’s findings while he appeals.
Judge Peter Mabuse ruled in favor of the president as Mkhwebane did not oppose Ramaphosa’s application for an interdict. As per the terms of the order granted by Mabuse, Ramaphosa’s challenge to Mkhwebane’s report will be heard on an expedited basis. The president also asserted that the case should be decided as soon as possible.
The case involves complaints made by opposition legislators with the watchdog in November that claimed Ramaphosa had violated the executive ethics code over a donation to his son by Gavin Watson, CEO of services company Bosasa.
At that time, the President had told parliament that the money was paid for the services he provided. But, interestingly, he changed his statement later by saying the payment was a donation towards his campaign.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Ramaphosa won another a case also involving Mkhwebane when the court ruled he had acted reasonably in not immediately disciplining Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan over a decision linked to a tax official’s retirement in 2010.
