JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South African president Cyril Ramaphosa will appear before the governing African National Congress party’s integrity commission over controversial campaign donations, the deputy secretary of the ruling party said on Sunday.

Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on cleaning up South African politics since he replaced former president Jacob Zuma more than two years ago, but he has been constrained by factional battles in the ANC, where a section of the party remains loyal to Zuma.

“He [Ramaphosa] has made contact with the integrity committee and he will be presenting himself there for a discussion on the CR17 funds,” said ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte during an interview on eNCA television.

CR17 funds refer to the campaign donations Ramaphosa received in 2017 when he was running for the ANC leadership.

Duarte did not say when the president would appear before the commission.

Members of the ANC have been removed from their posts as a result of the commission’s past recommendations.

South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog said in a report that Ramaphosa had “deliberately misled” parliament about a R500,000 ($35,955) donation he received.

Ramaphosa told parliament at that time that the money was obtained legally for services he provided, but he later amended this by saying the payment was a donation towards his campaign.

The saga has proven a headache for Ramaphosa, providing ammunition for his enemies.

Zuma, facing trial for graft, on Friday accused him of bringing the party into disrepute – a sign of growing divisions within the ANC. The party was holding its national executive committee conference this weekend.

In a letter to Ramaphosa leaked to the media, Zuma wrote: “Mr President, It appears that it has become your hallmark since our 54th National Conference to divert accusations from yourself rather than to face them and clear your name. Mr President, you currently stand accused of having received almost R1 billion in donations from White Monopoly Capital just to win an internal ANC contest. The ANC has repeatedly decried this phenomenon as something foreign to its culture, policies and constitution.

“We all know that such donations amounted to sacrificing the historic mission of the ANC for 30 pieces of silver. Worse still… you have sealed the record reflecting your generous donors in order for the public and ordinary members of the ANC you lead never to know the identities of those who funded your campaign to win the Presidency of our glorious movement and consequently ascend to the highest office in our land

“This, in my view, represents a major betrayal of those who voted for you with no knowledge that their vote was going to be enhanced by the WMC donors.” – Reuters