S.Africa's Ramaphosa says he tried to resist corruption as ex-president Zuma's deputy
Record ID:
1631858
S.Africa's Ramaphosa says he tried to resist corruption as ex-president Zuma's deputy
- Title: S.Africa's Ramaphosa says he tried to resist corruption as ex-president Zuma's deputy
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 11, 2021) (REUTERS) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TALKING TO ANC (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS) MEMBERS BEFORE THE START OF THE STATE CAPTURE INQUIRY
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 14:08
- Keywords: Cyril Ramaphosa Jacob Zuma South African President South African politics. Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture corruption investigation graft inquiry testimony
- Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Africa,Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA001EPU485J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, testifying at a graft inquiry on Wednesday (August 11), said he chose to "remain but resist" rather than resign as deputy president when allegations of widespread corruption surfaced under his predecessor Jacob Zuma.
Ramaphosa, Zuma's number two from May 2014 to February 2018, has made the fight against corruption a pillar of his presidency, though opposition parties have criticised him for not doing enough to stop the rot during his time as deputy.
Appearing for the second time at an inquiry probing allegations of graft during Zuma's nine years in power, Ramaphosa said the first option available to him was to resign as deputy president.
While this would have earned him praise from many quarters, he said, it would have "significantly impaired" his ability to end corruption.
He said he ultimately opted to "remain but to resist, hoping that we can turn things around".
Ramaphosa defeated Zuma's ex-wife to win the leadership position in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in 2017 then helped engineer Zuma's ouster as president.
The inquiry, headed by acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, is looking into allegations including that Zuma allowed businessmen close to him - brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta - to influence policy and win lucrative government contracts.
Zuma has denied corruption was prevalent under his administration. He claims the inquiry is politically motivated and has refused to fully cooperate with it.
Widely referred to domestically as "state capture", the influence of the Gupta's extended network only became known through investigative journalists and whistleblowers at state-owned companies, including power utility Eskom and freight logistics firm Transnet.
(Production: Sumaya Hisham, Shafiek Tassiem) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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