President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday hit back at the critics of the commissions of inquiry he has appointed since he took public office.

Responding to the debate on the budget vote of the Presidency, Ramaphosa said the Constitution empowered him with executive powers to establish commissions of inquiry into any matter of public concern.

“I said yesterday and I will repeat today, as a country committed to the rule of law, to procedural fairness and transparency, we will ensure that the allegations made around corruption in the upper echelons of the South African Police Service will be fully ventilated in the commission of inquiry process,” he said.

Ramaphosa has come under criticism after he announced the inquiry into the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and some who regard the commissions of inquiry as a waste of money and time, as their recommendations were not implemented.

Responding to MK Party’s parliamentary leader John Hlophe, who listed what was wrong in the country, Ramaphosa said they were aware of the many challenges the country faced.

“At the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that this democracy, only 31 years old, has made great progress in improving the quality of life of its citizens. Some countries in the world have democracies dating back hundreds, even thousands of years. Our democracy, by comparison, is still very young.”

He took a swipe at those who complained about scant progress made by the government, saying millions benefitted from electricity, clean water, and free basic services provided to the most vulnerable, among others.

“They wish us to discount the more than 600,000 learners who passed their matric exams last year, the highest recorded pass rate in our country’s democratic history. They wish us not to consider the more than 1.2 million young South Africans who are being supported to further their studies by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme,” he said.

Ramaphosa also warned against the sweeping statements about accountability lacking in the government.

He stated that the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation produces various public reports, including annual performance plans and monitoring reports on key outcomes like health and education.

“All of these are subject to parliamentary oversight. These are all regular, easily accessible, and detailed,” he said.

“They are there for any member of this House, and indeed any South African, to see, interrogate, and use to hold their public representatives to account. So before we stand here in this House and make generalisations about lack of accountability on the part of government, let us take the time to read.”

Ramaphosa lashed out at MK Party’s Siyabonga Gama for delivering what he described as a somewhat misguided view of the collaboration between government and business.

In defending partnerships with the private sector, Ramaphosa said achieving inclusive and sustainable growth that creates jobs cannot be done without active cooperation with business and industry, amid information from Statistics South Africa showing the private sector accounted for more than 73% of all employees in the country.

“While government’s role is, in part, to create an enabling environment for job creation and new businesses to thrive, the private sector is a critical driver of job creation.”

Ramaphosa further added that the Presidency was tasked with mobilising support from all social partners for the government’s programme of action.

“As the seventh administration and as Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, we have been firm in our commitment to working with social partners in pursuit of inclusive growth and job creation,” he said.

Ramaphosa also said it has been just over a year since the establishment of the GNU, which is made up of 10 political parties.

“There have indeed been disagreements and disputes among the GNU partners. And yet, despite our differences, as GNU partners, we have chosen to work for the common good.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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