ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa was in the hot seat at the Zondo Commission yesterday where he admitted: “State capture took place under our watch as the governing party.
“It involved some members and leaders of our organisation and it found fertile ground in the divisions, weaknesses and tendencies that have developed in our organisation since 1994,” he said.
“We all acknowledge that the organisation could and should have done more to prevent the abuse of power and the misappropriation of resources that defined the era of state capture.”
The ANC leader tried to assure the inquiry that the party does not support members who commit corruption and they will not be protected.
“Such members must face the full legal consequences of their actions. They cannot rely on the ANC for support or protection, nor may they appeal to the principle of collective responsibility.”
Ramaphosa also faced questions on why the ANC continued to accept donations from Bosasa when the company had been implicated in corruption.
Evidence leader Paul Pretorius quizzed Ramaphosa on how the ANC was not aware of this.
According to former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi, the company funded an ANC “war room” ahead of the 2014 elections.
Ramaphosa said: “It did happen. What is prominent in my mind is to say what is it we do to prevent it from happening?
“The Political Funding Act will be our saviour. Transparency, for me, is the biggest saviour, the limitations on amounts will give a limit of control.
“In this case, it did happen. That company Bosasa had contracts and funded an ANC election room, unless there's something criminal, it should be pursued.
“We should say how do we move to a new situation where we do not have a capture of that type.”