Ramaphosa: Trust Zuma on Russia nuclear deal

Cape Town - Members of parliament should trust President Jacob Zuma's promise in the State of the Nation speech that the nuclear agreement with Russia will be open and transparent, said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday.

Taking questions in the national council of provinces, Ramaphosa said: "It should suffice to say... when the president addressed the State of the Nation... he did say that all these things that are being done with regards to nuclear energy are going to be in an open and transparent manner. That is what our president said... I think we should rely on that."

He was asked by M Khawula, IFP MP KwaZulu-Natal, whether South Africa has signed a bilateral agreement with Russia and whether such agreements would have a negative impact on the workings of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa).