British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation this week has sparked questions around the accountability of SA leaders, including president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Johnson's resigned from office amid a political storm that saw dozens of government officials and cabinet step down in protest at his leadership.
He said he was sad to be leaving the best job in the world in a resignation statement on Thursday, and added “I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world”.
He had earlier appeared before a parliamentary liaison committee, a super committee, made up of the chairs of all the House of Commons select committees, to account for his policy and decision-making.
That appearance sparked calls for Ramaphosa to do the same in SA over the power crisis and burglary at his Phala Phala farm.
Among them was One SA Movement leader Mmusi Maimane, who said Ramaphosa should appear before a parliamentary ad hoc committee.
“Watching Boris Johnson appear before the liaison committee demonstrates how we as South Africans must demand that our president appear before an ad hoc committee of parliament to account on Eskom and Phala Phala. He must account to the people,” said Maimane.
He said a parliamentary committee hearing was preferable to a party integrity committee hearing because it was broadcast live and citizens could follow all proceedings.
“It’s also that as 27 [British] MPs resign from the government, citing that they want to protect their integrity, imagine if cabinet ministers who oversaw state capture [in SA] had the courage to resign in the face of such serious allegations. We need direct elections,” said Maimane.
Ramaphosa is set to appear before the ANC’s integrity commission soon to answer questions concerning the burglary at his farm.
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