Build One South Africa (BOSA) notes the continued escalation of legal proceedings by President Cyril Ramaphosa in relation to the Phala Phala matter, with today’s filing of papers in the Western Cape High Court to review the Phala Phala panel report.
While the President is fully within his constitutional rights to pursue any legal remedies available to him, South African taxpayers should not be forced to fund the President’s personal legal defence in a matter arising from his private farm and private affairs.
It is therefore inappropriate and unjustifiable for public funds to be used to finance what is, in essence, the President’s personal legal defence strategy in relation to those events.
BOSA recognises that every citizen, including the President, is entitled to access the courts and to defend themselves through due legal process.
However, that right does not extend to an open-ended entitlement to millions of rands in public money for top-tier legal teams, counsel, and protracted court proceedings.
South Africa has seen this movie before. The administration of former President Jacob Zuma became synonymous with what has widely been described as “Stalingrad-style litigation”.
Prolonged legal manoeuvring that delayed accountability proceedings and ultimately cost the public tens of millions of rands, with some estimates exceeding R30 million.
BOSA strongly warns against a repeat of such an approach, regardless of who occupies the Presidency.
A democracy cannot function where legal processes are weaponised to delay accountability while the public carries the financial burden.
If President Ramaphosa maintains his innocence, then the appropriate course of action is clear. He must subject himself fully to Parliament’s impeachment committee and allow the process to reach its conclusion without unnecessary obstruction or prolonged legal diversion.
Parliament’s impeachment process must proceed without obstruction. Only through full transparency and accountability before Parliament can this matter be resolved once and for all.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551