The Presidency has rejected suggestions that Cyril Ramaphosa interfered in the judiciary in his discussion with Judge Zondo on Monday on the release of the final part of the Zondo Commission’s state capture report.
The report, which was to have been released last week, is expected today.
It has been delayed because of what the commission described as ‘certain challenges’, according to News24.
On Monday, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said it was ‘completely inappropriate’ for Ramaphosa to have had a discussion with Judge Zondo on the timing of the release of the report.
But Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya rejected the implication that Ramaphosa had interfered in the judicial process.
According to News24, Magwenya said that Ramaphosa and Judge Zondo had had a brief telephone conversation on Monday, in which the judge ‘offered reassurance on the delivery of the report and discussed the coordination for the handover ceremony’.
The commission’s team had informed the Presidency that the report would be finalised after the sitting of the Judicial Service Commission on Monday but not in time for the promised handover at 6pm on the same day. Magwenya said no handover of the report could take place until and unless the Chief Justice had finalised his work.
By 11pm on Monday, the Presidency had still not received a copy of the final part of the report from the commission.
Said Magwenya: ‘The Presidency, therefore, rejects claims that the President has in any manner interfered with the work of the commission or the judiciary, as speculated by some opposition parties. Communication between the Chief Justice and the President has been over the delays in the delivery of the report and finalising the date for the official handover of the report.’
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