Public Protector clears Ramaphosa over Steenhuisen's Oval Office remarks

The Public Protector has cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of breaching the executive ethics code following a complaint regarding his silence during Minister John Steenhuisen's remarks in the Oval Office. The complaint, filed by MK party MP Mzwanele Manyi, alleged that Ramaphosa violated the code by not correcting or disassociating himself from Steenhuisen's comments made to US President Donald Trump on May 21, 2025. During that meeting, Steenhuisen stated that the DA joined the government of national unity GNU to prevent the EFF and the MK party from entering government. After an investigation, which included analyzing video recordings, correspondence, constitutional provisions, and the executive ethics code, the Public Protector found no evidence of a breach. The Public Protector determined that Steenhuisen made the comments as a DA leader, not as government policy, and that the President had no legal duty to rebut political statements made by a coalition partner in a diplomatic setting. The Public Protector also found no conflict between Ramaphosa's official responsibilities and any private interest, concluding that the allegations were unsubstantiated and the matter is formally closed. The Public Protector reiterated that political parties have the constitutional right to express their opinions, even within coalition governments, and such political speech does not automatically constitute executive misconduct.