Former president Thabo Mbeki has slammed the ruling party for voting against setting up a committee to investigate corruption pertaining to Phala Phala and Eskom. In a 17-page letter addressed to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Mbeki questioned why the formation of a multi-party committee to investigate the matter was stopped if ANC members believe that the President has not done anything impeachable. "The three-person panel appointed by the President concerning the Phala Phala matter decided that the President had a case to answer to with regards to a process of impeachment. ?

ANC ABANDONING ITS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS 

 Mbeki has also accused the ANC of abandoning its constitutional obligations to provide oversight over the executive and of ignoring the allegations of corruption at Eskom. "It's strange and disturbing that we have inadvertently allowed for corruption to continue at Eskom. There was an indication that the problems at Eskom are caused by a counter-revolutionary force that wants to weaken the company,'  

 NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RULING PARTY 

Mbeki also referenced the Nkandla matter and the negative impact it had on the ANC. He wrote, "I address this specific letter to you recalling the position taken by comrade President Cyril Ramaphosa late last year when he requested to be excused from the meetings of the ANC NWC and NEC when they discussed the Phala Phala matter. To put the matter directly, I have been very disturbed by the votes we have cast in the National Assembly on 22 March 2023, concerning a Motion on the Phala Phala matter; and 23 March 2023, concerning a Motion on Eskom."  

CORRUPTION CHALLANGES 

Mbeki further mentioned the corruption challenge and the Phala Phala matter. "You will also recall that the Phala Phala matter broke over our heads in June 2022 when Arthur Fraser lodged his complaint against our comrade President with the SAPS. Since then many questions relating to this matter have been posed in the public domain. So far nine months after the Fraser complaint, none of these questions has been answered,' He went on to say the recent report by SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter deepens the puzzle about what exactly happened at the Phala Phala farm. "In this context consistent with what Ramaphosa said in the open letter I have cited, we must be honest with ourselves and understand that many among the masses of our people will entertain the suspicion that the Phala Phala includes corruption," he added.