First Zuma, now Cyril: Ramaphosa to face ‘ConCourt judgment’ this week

ConCourt, if nothing else, has a fantastic knack for timing. Fresh from delivering one of the most jaw-dropping decisions of its recent history by sentencing Jacob Zuma to imprisonment on Tuesday, the bench is now set to share its verdict on the financial affairs of Cyril Ramaphosa, and his controversial campaign funding for his CR17 run.

Next up, it’s Cyril Ramaphosa

The campaign to get him elected as the leader of the ANC in 2017 – which would see him become the head of state just two months later – is mired in allegations of wrongdoings and misappropriation. Ramaphosa himself is accused of misleading Parliament over the donations, and the Public Protector’s investigation will also be scrutinised.

The long legal battle waged against the president all comes to a head on Thursday morning. Judgment will be passed at 10:00, with the sitting judge outlining the reasons for ConCourt’s final decision. This is the apex legal institution of South Africa, meaning that any verdict dished out here cannot be subject to an appeal elsewhere.

“Judgment on Thursday 1 July at 10h00: ‘Did the President mislead Parliament in relation to the donations made to the CR17 campaign?’ Did the Public Protector have the scope to investigate the CR17 Campaign?’, for Public Protector and others v President of the RSA and others. Court attendance will be limited to 20 members of the public and the media.”

ConCourt to rule on CR17 matter

It’s not clear what punishment would come with a guilty verdict, but Cyril Ramaphosa isn’t likely to be sharing a cell with Jacob Zuma any time soon. Incarceration isn’t on the table for those who mislead Parliament – which probably explains why so many of our politicians make a fairly consistent hobby out of it.

(1/2) Judgment on Thursday, 1 July at 10h00: Did the President mislead Parliament in relation to the donations made to the CR17 campaign? Did the Public Protector have the scope to investigate the CR17 Campaign? (Public Protector and others v President of the RSA and others)

— Constitutional Court (@ConCourtSA) June 30, 2021