President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s scheduled appearance before the Zondo commission next week will be postponed to a later date, at the request of Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The postponement was announced by the commission and the presidency on Thursday.
“The president’s office is in communication with the commission to ensure suitable alternative dates for his appearance,” the presidency said.
Ramaphosa was due to testify on Monday and Tuesday, this time in his capacity as head of state, after giving evidence over two days in late April as leader of the ANC.
On that occasion, he conceded that electoral setbacks had contributed to the party realising that it needed to address corruption in its ranks, and was asked by Zondo whether he believed the ruling party could redeem itself, unless it took further, bold action.
“So to the extent that the ANC wishes to impart or to even play an important role as it must, I think to change the situation in the country, it can’t do, so it seems to me … by looking at those things that are comfortable for it to change. It can’t make a meaningful impact on issues of corruption and state capture unless it confronts issues that are painful to confront,” said Zondo.
He asked Ramaphosa to reflect on this before his return to the witness stand.
The commission is on a tight deadline to complete its work by the end of June. It did not immediately give an explanation for the postponement.