Prevent capture of justice system

President Cyril Ramaphosa can no longer afford to take too long to make decisions on urgent matters.

Throughout his presidency, but particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, this trait of Ramaphosa’s leadership style has been criticised.

There is a strong belief that he over-consults, and thus is slow to make decisions.

The matter currently on the president’s table is that of under-fire Justice Minister Thembi Simelane, who is accused of securing a loan of R575600, from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which was allegedly used to buy a coffee shop in Sandton during her tenure as Polokwane mayor. The company is linked to the VBS bank looting scandal.

Simelane has set the record straight about the issue and has confirmed that such a loan had been repaid and money invested by the municipality, not her, was withdrawn immediately when the national Treasury issued the instruction to municipalities.

Her opponents have seemingly moved the goalposts and argue that the loan came from an entity with no authority to lend money.

While Parliament has correctly held her to account in order to clear the air, Ramaphosa cannot sit on a matter that now appears to have been settled unless he knows something the public does not.

Before returning home from the successful Forum on China-Africa Co-operation Summit a few days ago, Ramaphosa told journalists on Simelane, “... that is a matter we are dealing with. As president, I do need space and the time to be able to deal with this matter”.

He said “it is not a matter that is going to be swept under the carpet, it is being dealt with”.

While decisive leaders make and announce their decisions at the right time, taking too long on matters such as this leaves a gap for every Mashaba, Maimane and Malema to have their say and influence the public’s narrative.

Surely the sooner the matter is put to bed the better for the stability of our justice system, which must be protected against any attempt to capture it.

Cape Times