By Themba Khumalo

In the summer of 2017 Cyril Ramaphosa come out slightly victorious as president of the ANC at its elective conference held in Nasrec, South of Joburg. In 2018, after Jacob Zuma was kicked off the presidential seat, Ramaphosa took over. The chatterati, together with the dazed and chuckleheaded disciples of the new emperor, buried him under mega-tons of praises…he was nothing short of a Messiah.
Those who hold an opposing view or are critical of the high priest of paradise on earth, are beaten into silence by parishioners of the Church of the New Dawn with their high-minded mouthings.
The country was awash with the praises of a saviour who was going to restore the dignity of the country and free it from biblical Sodom and Gomorrah that was visited upon us by the infamous nine wasted years. When critical voices pointed out that Ramaphosa was part of the wasted years, they were labelled as pro-Zuma and disgruntled members of the clumsy Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction.
As a political leader, Ramaphosa who is also a servant of the citizens, his duty is to work for the betterment of society, but it would be the emperor, the high and mighty priest, that has not really been up to the task. I hold no brief for former president Jacob Zuma. He presided over rampant corruption. He made horrible decisions and choices which were a hard slap across the faces of the citizens of this abused republic. The new emperor, dressed in cleverly worded statements and riding on public relation boat that has been in full throttle does not deserve the robes of innocence. In the five years he has been in power, Ramaphosa has shown himself to be a man who is a million miles away from statesmanship.
A statesman is a leader who has some modicum of integrity and willingness to stand up for what is right, even if it means resigning from his position in government when damning allegations of wrong doing come tumbling out of the cupboard. In 2019, bank statements which were lodged by the public protector in the Pretoria High Court regarding donations made to the CR17 campaign were sealed from public access, after a request from Ramaphosa. When the EFF embarked on a legal challenge to make the bank statements public, the courts, once more granted Ramaphosa his wish for the records to remain sealed.
Now, when CR17 campaign documents were kept secret, it created suspicion that the emperor had no intentions of committing to the transparency and accountability he highly spoke about.
Whenever an elected leader hides information from the public, it instantly breeds suspicions about his motives. It makes even the proverbial village imbecile wonder: “What is he hiding, and why?”
Just like the village idiot, I am suspicious of a politician who invokes national security to give as reason the classification of files. Even the street-smart man and woman would have their suspicions raised whether the leader is trying to hide very damaging and unlawful activities. The blabbermouths, self-styled champions and defenders of the high priest went bonkers when questions were asked about the funding of the CR17 campaign and the decision to seal the bank statements from public access.
Frothing at the mouth, the out-of-tune praise singers told all and sundry that there were other candidates campaigning for the presidency of the ANC and only Ramaphosa was unfairly singled out for special attention. Well, a casual application of common sense, tells us that the winner always has the spotlight focused on them. Of all the high positions, a president will always be the subject of citizens’ attention because he is in the news most of the time, for one reason or the other. It never occurs to the bangers of a damaged drum that Ramaphosa styled himself as the champion of transparency and accountability which he described as the sine qua non of democracy. It is therefore mind-boggling that when an ancient smelly skeleton steps out into the public, calling Ramaphosa’s name, transparency and accountability become swear words. The cynical ghost that lives deep in the whisky-marinated bowels of my souls tells me these drum majorettes are desperately trying to silence the many who are able to see through these blame-shifting delusions. In 2020, the South African Energy Forum (SAEF) were extremely critical of a transaction that got the approval by the Competition Commission of Seriti Resources Holdings’ procurement of South32’s SA Energy Coal’s (SAEC) 90% shares, which would make it the country’s single biggest coal supplier to Eskom. A statement released by SAEF at the time said: “Ignoring the concentration risk making Seriti the largest coal supplier to the only electricity provider at excessive cost-plus coal is not in the social or economic welfare of South Africans. The commission is creating the largest coal supplier to Eskom, in complete disregard of its role to create SMMEs.” There were allegations that the chief executive of Seriti, Mike Teke, who masterminded deal, made a donation of R600000 to the CR17 election campaign. Other allegations pointed out that other people who also donated to CR17 were elevated to board memberships in state-owned entities. Surely, any sane patriot would be concerned with such allegations. Another important factor the blind followers conveniently forget is that Ramaphosa took a binding oath of office after his victory at Nasrec:
“In the presence of everyone assembled here‚ and in full realisation of the high calling I assume as President of the Republic of South Africa‚ I‚ Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa‚ swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa‚ and will obey‚ observe‚ uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other law of the Republic; and I solemnly and sincerely promise that I will always promote all that will advance the Republic‚ and oppose all that may harm it; protect and promote the rights of all South Africans; discharge my duties with all my strength and talents to the best of my knowledge and ability and true to the dictates of my conscience; do justice to all; and devote myself to the well-being of the Republic and all of its people. So, help me God.”
With the Phala-phalagate scandal, the President really needs God’s help.
Scapegoating and all other manner of subterfuge must be pushed aside and the following questions from the public protector, be honestly answered:
● Whether the said premises or the property at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo, belongs to you or is registered under your name or under the name of any of your company where you own a stake, kindly explain the nature of this business.
● Whether there was any cash to the tune of millions of US dollars, (in excess of four million US dollars) stashed within your premises at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo and if yes, please clarify the following:
(a) The source of such cash,
(b) Any register, receipt or other proof to indicate the source of such cash, the nature of the trade transaction from which it emanated or the purpose of such cash;
(c) The name of the countries and persons you were trading with and who paid the money in this regard;
(d) The permits for such trade at the time and if there is any please attach copy thereof;
(e) Does such permit or regulations allow an auctioneer to accept hard cash on site;
(f) The exact amount in Rands of such other Foreign Currency and proof thereof;
(g) The date(s) on which such cash was received at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg and the name of the person(s) who received it;
(h) The exact manner in which this cash was kept or stored at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg e.g., safe or furniture;
(i) The reason(s) as to why the cash was kept or stored at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg and not at the bank;
(j) How long has that cash been kept on premises;
(k) Was the cash declared to South African Revenue Services (Sars) and if yes please attach proof;
(l) Does the Phala Phala farm pay the tax as required by SARS for sales or auction of any stock, if yes please provide proof;
(m) Does Phala Phala farm in Waterberg hold any bank account and if yes, please provide the Public Protector with the name of the details of the bank account;
27.6 Whether there was a robbery and/or theft of cash at the Phala Phala farm in Waterberg on 9 February 2020, and if yes, how much was stolen;
● Whether the theft or crime in connection with this cash was reported to the SAPS and if yes, please provide the date on which the matter was reported, the name of the police station and the Case number. If not, please explain why was the matter was not reported the police [station];
● Whether the stolen money was recovered or not, and if yes:
(a) How much was recovered.
(b) When was it recovered.
(c) Where was it recovered.
(d) Who recovered it.
(e) From whom was it recovered.
(f) Was any person(s) interviewed, interrogated, arrested and charged for such crime?
Since Ramaphosa took over in 2018, his New Dawn has become an extraordinary terrifying nightmare for many; only a select few have seen the New Dawn as they continue to lie and plunder more without consequences.

End the blame game
Much as incalculable damage happened under Zuma, we must be wary of elevating him to a gigantic bogeyman of mythical proportions to absolve President Ramaphosa of his transgressions.
He has been the captain of this hip since 2018 and unfortunately, we are still headed for the iceberg that sank the Titanic. When will the talk of former president Zuma’s nine wasted years end and when will the accountability of President Ramaphosa start? The hoodwinked clique of Ramadenial praise singers can no longer protect him from the political storms and open criticism.