Opposition parties blast Ramaphosa's anti-corruption rhetoric, say he's not walking the talk

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa’s anti-corruption rhetoric has been put to the test in Parliament as opposition parties have lambasted him for not being firm with his own Cabinet. 

He’s particularly been challenged for not asking his deputy, Paul Mashatile, to step down, in light of a slew of corruption claims against him exposed by investigative journalists. 

Mashatile sat alongside him in the Cape Town City Hall on Tuesday, where both Houses of Parliament were debating his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

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 Opposition parties said Ramaphosa was not walking the anti-corruption talk. 

Inkatha Freedom Party president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, criticised the lack of action against MPs implicated in state capture. 

"Honourable President, you have put party before country. The damage done to South Africa is huge." 
 
Democratic Alliance MP, Leon Schreiber, questioned the silence of deputy president, Paul Mashatile. 

"He’s sitting right here, so why wasn’t he allowed to speak today? I'll tell you why... because the ANC is too afraid to put its corruption-accused deputy president on this stage." 

Meanwhile, Freedom Front Plus leader, Pieter Groenewald, took issue with the president himself. 

"When it came to the Phala Phala issue, it was this ANC in Parliament who protected you. Why? You said you did nothing wrong. Why didn’t you come forward and be accountable to the people of South Africa?"

The debate continues on Wednesday, with Ramaphosa expected to reply on Thursday.