23 April 2023, Timeslive, Andisiwe Makinana
MMA approached the court on an urgent basis in February, asking it to compel Ramaphosa to appoint the new board and seeking an order declaring that he had failed to fulfil his obligations timeously.
This week, Ramaphosa informed the court that he had now appointed the board and therefore the MMA application was moot and academic. He said the delay in making the appointment was not wilful or an attempt to avoid his constitutional obligations but reflected his attempt to ensure he complied with those obligations.
The watchdog, in a supplementary affidavit, begged to differ. “The application is not moot and still requires adjudication; and the president’s conduct was still unconstitutional,” said MMA director William Bird.