Leaked Emails “Calculated” to Undermine Ramaphosa, Says ANC

A series of emails leaked to the press purporting to show President Cyril Ramaphosa knew who donors to his presidental campaign were, after he had said in Parliament he didn’t know, were nothing but a “calculated maneuver” and an “effort to undermine public confidence” in him, the ANC said in a statement today.

The emails were part of a report by Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane into a complaint – launched by the Democratic Alliance – that Ramaphosa had allegedly known that R500,000 donated to his campaign had come from the scandal-plagued Bosasa company, despite  denials to the contrary. On the weekend, News24 ran a story about the emails, which allegedly showed that Ramaphosa indeed knew some of the contributors to his campaign.

In the statement released by ANC spokesman Pule Mabe, it was stated, “The ANC is not aware of any acts of illegality on the part of a campaign conducted by any leader of the ANC, including President Ramaphosa. The leaked emails are therefore nothing but a calculated manoeuvre to defocus and detract from the immediate task of socio-economic issues and dealing with the challenges of our economy. This is also an attempt to undermine public confidence in President Ramaphosa whose leadership has been defined by moral and ethical conduct.”

A lack of control over party campaign funding in South Africa has led to the demand for stricted to control the disclosure of party funding information. Last week, it was announced that a new funding officer would be looking into the creation of these measures.