President sticks to his guns on commissions of inquiry amid budget debate

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa hit back at the critics of the commissions of inquiry he has appointed since he took public office.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Responding to the debate on the budget vote of the Presidency, Ramaphosa said the Constitution empowered him with executive powers to establish commissions of inquiry into any matter of public concern.

"I said yesterday and I will repeat today, as a country committed to the rule of law, to procedural fairness and transparency, we will ensure that the allegations made around corruption in the upper echelons of the South African Police Service will be fully ventilated in the commission of inquiry process," he said.

Ramaphosa has come under scrutiny after he announced the inquiry into the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and some who regard the commissions of inquiry as a waste of money and time, as their recommendations were not implemented.

Responding to MK Party’s parliamentary leader John Hlophe, who listed what was wrong in the country, Ramaphosa said they were aware of the many challenges the country faced.