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Cape Town – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday lauded Parliament for passing the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Bill, saying the ratification of the piece of legislation will enhance South Africa’s stature in the international investor community.
Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said he is certain that President Jacob Zuma will keep in mind that MPs are urging him to sign the bill into law as a matter of urgency.
READ: Zuma slammed for wasting time as Parliament adopts FIC Bill
The question on the FIC Bill was initially asked by Economic Freedom Fighters MP Floyd Shivambu, who wanted to know from Ramaphosa if he was aware that Mzwanele (Jimmy) Manyi had made claims to the effect that the FIC Bill, once signed into law, would make it difficult for the ANC to obtain funding for its election campaigns.
During public hearings held on January 26 this year, Manyi in his capacity as president of the Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF) engaged members of the standing committee on finance about the undesirability of the FIC Bill. Manyi argued that the bill targets politically influential people and infringes upon their ability to do business.
On Wednesday, Shivambu asked Ramaphosa if he as deputy president is in favour of the ANC relying on money laundering activities to finance its programmes.
“During submissions to Parliament a member of the public came to say that if this bill is passed and signed into law, the ANC is going to be broke. He was intimating the ANC benefits from legislation that combats anti-money laundering and no one from your party argued against that. His name is Jimmy Manyi,” Shivambu said.
Ramaphosa responded, saying the ruling party abhors money laundering and therefore supports the FIC Bill and applauds everyone who voted in favour of it.
“If it is true what Jimmy Manyi said, I have no idea what he was talking about. He is definitely not talking on behalf of the ANC that I lead and I know,” Ramaphosa said.
Questions on R840 000 sponsorship for Manyi's PPF
In a follow-up question, Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier asked Ramaphosa to explain why two parastatals, Eskom and Transnet, funded the Manyi-associated PPF with sponsorships of R840 000 for a conference and gala dinner.
“Do you think that is right, Mr Deputy President, that the new Honourable Member Brian Molefe (former Eskom chairperson who was recently sworn in as an ANC MP) sponsors someone like Jimmy Manyi?” Maynier asked.
Ramaphosa denied any knowledge of the sponsorships, saying had he known he would have expressed a view on the matter.
