Ramaphosa said this in his address at the Galeshewe Stadium in the Northern Cape capital of Kimberley today, where the party was launching its people’s manifesto ahead of the 2019 elections in May. 

The President of the ruling party highlighted the progress made in restoring the credibility and dignity of the ANC, most notably through the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo. 

The inquiry probes the fitness of Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Sithembiso Mrwebi to hold the office of Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions and Special Director of Public Prosecutions led by Constitutional Court Justice, Yvonne Mokgoro, as well as the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS. Ramaphosa says the truth that is coming out in these inquiries “is the truth that will set us free and make us stronger”.  He alluded to the truth’s significance in charting a new path for not only the ruling party, but the country as a whole.

The Zondo Commission, most recently the testimony of the former Bosasa Chief Operations Officer (COO), Angelo Agrizzi, unveiled the levels of corruption that had infiltrated state owned entities, some in the form of bribes taken by state officials, with some ministers being exposed by the testimony. The Zondo Commission also resulted in the resignation of Nhlanhla Nene as Finance Minister last year following his admission that he had visited the Gupta family’s Sahara Computer offices and their residence after he was invited to do so by Ajay Gupta. The several visits took place between 2010 and 2014 when he was deputy minister and after he was first appointed as finance minister. “We never want to go back to those things that have been revealed in the various Commissions,” stresses Ramaphosa.

The President reassured the people of the Northern Cape that he is committed to growing the province’s economy and will ensure that service delivery is improved. “We must do better,” he says.

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