The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has requested that ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa explain his comments in a leaked audio recording on the use of public funds for ANC activities.

The meeting was aimed at determining whether it should haul President Cyril Ramaphosa before it to explain how State funds had been used to pay for ANC campaigns.

The matter was brought before the committee by a suspended ANC member of parliament, Mervyn Dirks. Dirks had previously written to Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlenga requesting a probe into the president’s conduct.

However, when asked to withdraw the request, he refused and was subsequently suspended. Dirks has also been accused of unbecoming conduct.

He has lost his urgent bid in the Western Cape High Court to be allowed back onto the committee. Dirks was however allowed to present to the committee this afternoon.

“The fact that President Cyril Ramaphosa knows about the misuse of public funds for political party purposes, and that he chose not to reveal this critical information is extremely serious. We can’t escape our oath of allegiance that all the relevant information must be brought before us, and that ultimately it is not possible for President Ramaphosa to escape being summoned to explain his very own words,” says Dirks.