Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says that everyone "fingered" in allegations of state capture, including President Jacob Zuma, should welcome the opportunity to clear their name through a judicial inquiry.
Responding to a question by the ANC's Mondli Gungubele in the National Assembly yesterday, Ramaphosa said those implicated in the allegations should be called before a judicial commission of inquiry, regardless of who they were.
Ramaphosa said this was necessary because there was "much evidence about undue influence, [or about] who may well have had undue influence with regard to a number of institutions of government or state in relation to non-transparent appointment and procurement decisions."
The deputy president said the state capture allegations "were a matter of grave concern to many South Africans" and were "abhorrent".
Zuma, the Gupta family and several government ministers have been implicated in serious allegations of impropriety and corruption. The president has been accused of surrendering his authority to the Guptas.
Choosing his words carefully, Ramaphosa said the proposed judicial inquiry should be set up urgently.
"If there are allegations like these, whoever is affected should welcome the opportunity to explain themselves to clear their name."
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