Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was not involved in any “uncompetitive practices,” as suggested by press reports, his acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale said on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa “reaffirms his view that any credible allegations of uncompetitive behavior should be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held to account”, Seale said.
This came after the Business Day newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Competition Commission has been asked to investigate possible collusion and uncompetitive practices related to coal contracts involving state-run electricity utility Eskom in a request implicating Ramaphosa’s “Shanduka Trust.”
The report said the complaint lists Shanduka Coal, “in which Ramaphosa held an interest in trust.”
The complaint came amid the vicious succession battle for leadership of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December, in which Ramaphosa is one of the front-runners to succeed President Jacob Zuma.
Ramaphosa disposed of his stake in Shanduka Group in November 2014, including all of Shanduka’s mining assets and investments in other “regulated” sectors, Seale said.
The deputy president has no interest in Shanduka Coal or in any mining assets, either in a trust or in any other form, said Seale.
Ramaphosa “is not aware of any entity known as Shanduka Trust,” Seale said.
In what was described part of a smear campaign, the deputy president’s private e-mail account was recently hacked, and details of alleged extramarital affairs were published.
Rumors also emerged recently that Ramaphosa would soon be sacked by Zuma in another cabinet reshuffle.
Zuma’s spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga has denied the rumors. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
