Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Marecia Damons
Published on 2024-03-01 12:22:36
President Cyril Ramaphosa has made the decision to suspend Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters, for a period of one month. This action was taken following a sanction imposed on Peters by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, as stated in a release by the Presidency on Friday.
The incident dates back to 2023 when the rail activist organization #UniteBehind lodged complaints against Peters with Parliament. Peters, a member of the ANC who served as transport minister from 2013 to 2017, was accused of breaching the Code of Conduct in relation to State Capture issues at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). These breaches included dismissing the board overseeing Prasa’s affairs, misuse of Prasa buses for ANC events without proper payment, and failure to appoint a CEO when necessary.
In October 2023, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found Peters guilty of breaching the Code of Conduct while she was transport minister. As a result, she was sanctioned and suspended for one term. Peters contested this decision by filing an urgent application with the Western Cape High Court in January, arguing that the suspension was unjust and unconstitutional. Her application was ultimately dismissed with costs.
Following these events, #UniteBehind sent an urgent letter to President Ramaphosa in February, urging him to remove Peters from office due to her alleged involvement in corruption at Prasa during her tenure as transport minister.
The Presidency confirmed the suspension of Peters, effective from 28 February to 28 March 2024, without pay. #UniteBehind leader Zackie Achmat expressed disappointment in Ramaphosa’s decision, stating that the action should have been taken much earlier. He criticized the President for choosing the “softest and easiest option” by suspending Peters for only a month, while the issue of State Capture remains unresolved.
Achmat emphasized the importance of holding accountable those involved in facilitating corruption, and criticized Ramaphosa for allowing individuals guilty of such actions to receive lenient sanctions. He credited #UniteBehind for bringing attention to the matter and taking legal action, which he believes prompted Ramaphosa to take action in this case.
In conclusion, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend Deputy Minister Dipuo Peters reflects the ongoing efforts to address corruption and unethical conduct in government. The suspension serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding ethical standards and holding public officials accountable for their actions.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
