Public Protector Nearly Concludes Probe into President Ramaphosa's Alleged Abuse of State Resources

The Public Protector of South Africa's office has confirmed that the investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa's alleged misuse of state resources for party political activities is nearing completion. This follows a complaint by a citizen, Elias Muller, who accused the President of leveraging state assets to bolster the profile and campaign efforts of the African National Congress (ANC), the political party he leads.

Muller's complaint, lodged in October 2022, specifically claims that President Ramaphosa used a South African Defence Force (SANDF) helicopter to attend an ANC political event in Welkom, Free State on October 8, 2022. The allegations extend to Ramaphosa's handover of an RDP (Reconstruction and Development Programme) house in the Northern Cape—a government initiative—during the same campaign, framing it as an ANC activity, which Mulloser deems a violation of presidential conduct and an abuse of power.

The Public Protector's spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe, stated that their office is actively investigating these allegations and will release findings shortly. The crux of the inquiry is whether the President engaged in irregular conduct by utilizing state resources, such as the SANDF helicopter and the municipal machinery, for ANC party affairs—blurring the lines between state responsibilities and party interests.

Earlier this year, the Democratic Alliance (DA), a major opposition party, criticized President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile for what it terms the habitual misuse of SAAF (South African Air Force) flights for the attendance of ANC events. Kobus Marius, a DA parliament member, highlighted the lack of provision in the Presidential Handbook for such usage and condemned the operational and budgetary implications for the SAAF.

In response to critiques, President Ramaphosa has defended the Ministry's Handbook, arguing that it provides necessary tools for political office bearers to perform their duties effectively. He clarified that the adoption of the guide stems from a cabinet decision, rather than any legislative provision.

The Public Protector's probe has taken center stage in a larger discourse on governance ethics and the purported erosion of distinctions between government functions and partisan activities. This inquiry falls amidst previous incidents, such that of former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who was penalized for misusing government assets for ANC-related travel.

Through this investigation and its impending findings, South Africans await clarity and, possibly, a precedent-setting outcome that could have a significant impact on the conduct of political office bearers in relation to state resources.