Speaking at the inaugural SAfm lecture, under the theme 'Constitutionalism and upholding the rule of law in South Africa', the former Chief Justice criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's failure to disclose the sources of his R500-million CR17 campaign, and the ANC must avoid becoming 'a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich'.

Retired Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng believes it is time for South Africa to develop a public funding model that would ensure that government and political parties owe their allegiance to taxpayers rather than private funders.

This, according to Mogoeng, was a price worth paying to avoid a democratic order that produces "a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich".

"Who facilitates a politician's upward mobility is a question that must necessarily and seriously exercise our minds for the biting truth is, there is no free lunch in this world.

"Private funding of individuals and of political parties themselves is in my view an investment that is expected to yield very handsome returns as soon as beneficiaries thereof rise to positions of sufficient authority to deal out favours at tenders," he said.

Mogoeng made the remarks on Wednesday night at the inaugural SAfm lecture titled: "Constitutionalism and upholding the rule of law in South Africa".

Ramaphosa in firing line

In his address, Mogoeng did not mince his words as he criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's failure to disclose sources of his almost R500-million campaign to become ANC president and how the money was spent to win the top...