President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that he stands ready to take the nation into his confidence and that he would do so through legal and Parliamentary processes.

Following a disruptive session in the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Presidency said it was concerned about claims made by MPs that Ramaphosa did not answer the question for oral reply in the National Assembly, on the robbery that occurred at his Limpopo farm in January 2020.

“On a proper reading of the question, President Ramaphosa did, in fact, answer the question,” said his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, on Wednesday.

In his oral reply, Ramaphosa had said, “I know there is a great deal of interest in my answer to this question and I’d like to say that, without appearing that I do not want to answer questions, that I do not want to be accountable, I should say that as I have indicated before – in written replies to Members of this House, in the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote and in statements on various public platforms – I stand ready to cooperate with any investigations on this matter.”

He pointed out that investigations were ongoing by a variety of agencies, which showed the importance of the matter.

He said he had responded, and would continue to respond, to all the questions put to him by the relevant authorities.

Ramaphosa said he stood ready to give an explanation, but for him, it has been important that he should give space, stand back and allow the various agencies to deal with these matters as thoroughly as he believed they were doing.

He added that he had been advised to address the matter once the due processes had concluded.
 
“While there are clearly individuals and organisations that seek some mileage out of this issue, the most appropriate response from my side is for the law to take its course. It is important for me that due process is followed, including the process that is going to unfold in Parliament. I stand ready to cooperate with that process as well and will be ready to be fully accountable,” Ramaphosa said further in his oral reply.

Ramaphosa also indicated that he would cooperate with, and be fully accountable to, the Parliamentary investigation.
 
“It is clear from the President’s reply that he considers it prudent to account on this matter through the due processes. This is consistent with what the President has said from the outset that there is no basis for the claims of criminal conduct that have been made against him, and that he will provide any information that the relevant authorities require,” said Magwenya.