A parliamentary reply from the Office of the President has indicated President Cyril Ramaphosa's intention to wait for the report from the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture before he takes action against any Cabinet ministers.
IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa asked Ramaphosa whether he would take action against Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane, Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe and Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla after they were named in testimony before the inquiry.
He also asked, "if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the action he intends to take?"
In the reply, the Presidency stated that "the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in public institutions is currently under way.
"Following the conclusion of the inquiry, the commission will submit findings and recommendations to the president.
"The president will await the report of the commission before determining what action needs to be taken, including [action] against any members of Cabinet [who] may be implicated in the report."
Allegations of impropriety have been steadily entering the public domain over the last few months and some of the most shocking revelations were made by former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi.
These allegations implicated Cabinet ministers and high-ranking government officials in alleged corruption. To the chagrin of members of opposition parties and the public, no material action has been taken.
Political analysts have theorised that the issue is due to the precarious balance of factional forces within the ruling party and the adverse political effect that any major action dealing with the implicated people may have on the president's position within the ANC, News24 previously reported.
The reply from the president continues that "nothing prevents the relevant authorities within the criminal justice system from investigating allegations of impropriety by ministers or any other persons. In any such instances, legal processes must be allowed to be concluded with due regard for the rule of law."