Zondo Commission: Ramaphosa admits Parliament 'dropped the ball'

This morning, the President is being questioned on parliamentary oversight. 

Evidence leader, advocate Alec Freund first highlighted the Nkandla judgement by the Constitutional Court and parliament's failure to hold a sitting president accountable. 

Freund then drew Ramaphosa's attention to allegations concerning the wealthy Gupta family: 

"You will see Mr President that this is dated, it's issued as we see on the foot of the page, by the parliament of the Republic of South Africa and its headed parliamentary investigation into alleged state capture emails." 

"In light of the recent accusations of state capture linked to alleged emails involving several ministers, it will appear that it must be a reference to what has come to be known as the Gupta leaks."  

He says, "In the light of these emails, parliamentary directories have been directed to urgently probe the allegations and report back to the National Assembly." 

The advocate wanted to know when the President learnt about these investigations. 

Ramaphosa says, "This is in our view will be in line with what parliament needed to do at that time because part of the evidence was now becoming evident and available. Personally, whether I became aware of the move I would not be able to put my finger on it but once this instruction is noted and letter being issued I was quite relaxed and happy that this process has started." 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that Parliament should have acted sooner to investigate the truth behind allegations concerning the controversial Gupta family. " And yes as you said earlier, there was a dropping of the ball at that level." 

The President's been asked at the Zondo Commission this morning, whether Parliament could've played a more active role years ago.  

"I accept that and I concede that. It is for that reason that in 2012 the decision that I referred you to which you showed me the relevant passages of the resolution, was then taken, because, chairperson - it was realised that we now need to activate another arm to go into this much more deeply than the ANC itself could."  

Evidence leader, advocate Alec Freund drew Ramaphosa's attention to a Sunday Times article back in 2011.  

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"Speaking from memory, I might be wrong but I think this was the banner headline on the front page of the Sunday Times. Ministers quote shiver when summoned to family's [Gupta] home and I just draw your [Ramaphosa] attention to some of the allegations." 

Freund quoted an excerpt from the report. "Members of the working committee who attended the recent meeting said: " the concern is that these people or the Guptas now have influence in the appointment of CEOs and chairman of state-owned entities which then means the ANC has lost its way and is influenced in these crucial diplomas." 

"It says, the Gupta brothers Atul and Ajay and Rajesh are said to yield so much power that they often summon cabinet ministers and senior government officials to their family compound in Saxonworld, Johannesburg and other accusations levels with the Guptas that they phoned at least three deputy ministers and told them they will be promoted days before Zuma announced his cabinet reshuffle."

Watch here: