The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to hand over all of his personal emails, WhatsApp’s and other communication during his position as African National Congress (ANC) cadre deployment chairperson.

The DA has won a seminal case finding the ANC and its secretary-general Fikile Mbalula guilty of contempt of court.

Last month, the DA approached the court on an urgent basis after the ANC “redacted, destroyed and withheld” records of its cadre deployment committee dating back to January 2013, when Ramaphosa became its chairperson.

In its ruling, the court specifically condemned the “ANC’s contemptuous failure” to disclose communications and records held by Ramaphosa.

“The court noted that “in particular, [the ANC] was obliged to disclose communication relating to the committee’s work by, and involving, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was the chairperson of the committee between 2013 and 2018,” said DA Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration Dr Leon Schreiber.

He noted that the ruling confirms “beyond all doubt” that the ANC was a “lawless criminal syndicate” that hid the fact that its “corrupt cadre deployment committee” was the root cause of State capture, corruption and service delivery failure.

“As a result of today’s ruling, the DA calls on Ramaphosa to act in accordance with his position as President of South Africa in order to bring an end to this escalating constitutional crisis triggered by his party, by abiding by the ruling and handing over to the DA all of his personal emails, WhatsApp’s and other communication revealing the role he personally played in State capture through his position as ANC cadre deployment chairperson,” he said.

Schreiber said the court agreed with the DA that the behaviour by the ANC, in violation of a court order upheld by the Constitutional Court, amounted to “wilful” and “mala fide” contempt of court.

The court ordered the ANC to pay the DA’s full costs for the application, and to, within 15 days, give effect to the original court order by providing to the DA all of the information that has already been disclosed and that is further required to be disclosed in unredacted form so as to ensure all names of persons are legible.

The court has ordered the ANC to provide to the DA all of the information related to the processes and decisions of the ANC cadre deployment committee during the period 1 January 2013 to 1 January 2021, including minutes, draft minutes, notes, attendance registers, communications and decisions of the deployment committee whether prepared by or communicated to staff members of the ANC, members of the committee, chairpersons of the committee, and government officials.

The DA must also be furnished with emails, WhatsApp’s and other social media communications between and among members of the committee and between committee members, committee chairpersons and government officials.

The court ordered the ANC to hand over the personal email, hard drive and laptop of ANC official Thapelo Masilela and the laptop of ANC official Lungi Mtshali.