POLITICS

Mamphela Ramphele's show off stunt of no assistance to poor - ANC

Party says MPs, ministers and the President are required to annually declare their interests

STATEMENT BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ON REMARKS MADE BY DR RAMPHELE CALLING FOR PRESIDENT ZUMA TO DECLARE HIS FINANCIAL INTERESTS

Mamphela Ramphele's show off stunt does not assist the poor nor the fight against corruption. The African National Congress has noted the uninformed remarks made by AgangSA leader, Mamphela Ramphele calling for President Zuma to declare his financial interests. These remarks by Dr Ramphele are not only nothing new but are clearly based on ignorance of the legal framework created and implemented by our democratic dispensation. 

The African National Congress has always been and remains committed to transparency and accountability amongst our public representatives. To this end, the Constitution of the Republic and the Executive Members Ethics Act, 1998 are but some of the instruments created through which our country receives declarations from our public representatives on their assets.

The South Africa Tax system enjoins all South Africans, including leaders of political parties, to declare their financial interest annually and failure to do so is a criminal offence. Since the dawn of democracy, Members of our Parliament and Legislatures including the President from the time he was a MEC in KwaZulu-Natal to date have been compelled and do annually declare their interests.

The South African people are faced with critical challenges, chief amongst them being poverty, unemployment and inequality. These challenges require dedicated men and women to commit themselves to work to eradicate these daily realities facing the majority of South Africans, not politics of personality and flaunting one's personal wealth in the face of our people.

 Together with South Africans, the ANC has been part of a progressive body of opinion in our society that believes in the need to inculcate values of humility and service amongst our people; discouraging the so-called Izikhothane tendencies as demonstrated yesterday. The solutions to the challenges facing our country will not come from misguided populism but a dedication to the task at hand to build a better life for all. 

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, August 22 2013

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