President Cyril Ramaphosa will, on Wednesday, be the latest witness to appear before the State Capture Inquiry, in what is expected to be a dramatic showdown that may rupture South Africa’s political realm.
Watch live: Cyril Ramaphosa at the State Capture Inquiry
Proceedings at the inquiry are expected to kick off at 10:00. Tune into the live feed right here:
What will the commission probe the president on?
Ramaphosa is the second head of state to appear before the commission chaired by DCJ Raymond Zondo. While the inquiry’s chairperson has struggled to reel former president Jacob Zuma back into the hot seat, Ramaphosa was a willing and compliant witness.
For a while, the current incumbent has stated in multiple interviews that if need be, he would gladly appear at the commission. On Wednesday, after an intense week for Zondo, with testimonies from Nomachule ‘Norma’ Mngoma and Mosebenzi Zwane, it’s Ramaphosa’s turn to face a grilling.
During the period of alleged rampant looting, termed by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in her pioneering report titled State of Capture, Ramaphosa was the deputy president of the ANC and South Africa.
Decisions made on the running of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and controversial Cabinet appointments would have required his input and on Wednesday, we expect the president to provide insight on what his involvement was.
There is also the question of Glencore and Eskom’s foiled relationship that former CEO Brian Molefe pinned on the president. At the time, Ramaphosa had, in some capacity, influence over Glencore when the coal supplier turned on the power utility with hiked prices that, according to Molefe, forced them out of a business contract.
In this aspect too, the president will be allowed to offer his side of the story. Whether his testimony will prompt past witnesses to apply for cross-examination remains to be seen.