South African Parliament to vote on impeachment of Ramaphosa on Tuesday
The ruling African National Congress will meet on Monday to discuss Ramaphosa's fate after a report from a parliamentary panel last week said he may have acted illegally by covering up a burglary at his farm.
Despite deep divisions within the party, there appears to be a majority supporting the president.
In the past week there has been pressure in some quarters for Ramaphosa to resign or be forced out of office over what has become known as the Phala Phala affair, after the farm at the center of the controversy.
But Ramaphosa looked relaxed and cheerful on Sunday as he spoke to reporters outside a conference center where some ANC delegates were already discussing the case against him.
With a smile, he explained that he had been kicked out of the meeting, agreeing that under the circumstances it was better for him not to attend.
He was accused of covering up the burglary of more than half a million dollars in cash from his farm in northeastern South Africa.
Last week's report said the president "may have committed" serious violations and misconduct.
The president has come under fire since June, when a former spy chief filed a police complaint alleging Ramaphosa hid the February 2020 burglary from authorities.
He accused the president of organizing the kidnapping of the thieves and silencing them.
Ramaphosa said a huge sum of money hidden at the farm was payment for buffaloes bought by a Sudanese businessman. A police investigation is ongoing, but he has not yet been charged with any crime.
And although Ramaphosa insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing, his explanations did not convince the parliamentary panel, made up of three lawyers appointed by parliament.
On Monday (today), the ANC's top body, the National Executive Committee, would meet to discuss the matter.
On Tuesday, the report will be presented to parliament for consideration and there will be a vote on whether to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president.
In South Africa, impeachment means impeachment.
The scandal, with its colorful details of over half a million dollars in cash hidden under couch cushions, comes at the worst possible time for Ramaphosa.
On December 16, he will run for president of the ANC, a position that also holds the key to remaining the country's president.
However, on Saturday, Ramaphosa's spokesperson said the president would challenge the parliamentary report in court.
"President Ramaphosa is not resigning on the basis of a flawed report, nor is he stepping down," said Vincent Magwenya.
"It is in the long-term interests...of our constitutional democracy, well beyond the Ramaphosa presidency, that such a clearly flawed report be challenged, especially when used as a point of view. benchmark for removing a sitting head of state,” he added.
A majority is needed to trigger the impeachment process and if initiated, a two-thirds majority would be needed to impeach the president.
AFP
Despite deep divisions within the party, there appears to be a majority supporting the president.
In the past week there has been pressure in some quarters for Ramaphosa to resign or be forced out of office over what has become known as the Phala Phala affair, after the farm at the center of the controversy.
But Ramaphosa looked relaxed and cheerful on Sunday as he spoke to reporters outside a conference center where some ANC delegates were already discussing the case against him.
With a smile, he explained that he had been kicked out of the meeting, agreeing that under the circumstances it was better for him not to attend.
He was accused of covering up the burglary of more than half a million dollars in cash from his farm in northeastern South Africa.
Last week's report said the president "may have committed" serious violations and misconduct.
The president has come under fire since June, when a former spy chief filed a police complaint alleging Ramaphosa hid the February 2020 burglary from authorities.
He accused the president of organizing the kidnapping of the thieves and silencing them.
Ramaphosa said a huge sum of money hidden at the farm was payment for buffaloes bought by a Sudanese businessman. A police investigation is ongoing, but he has not yet been charged with any crime.
And although Ramaphosa insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing, his explanations did not convince the parliamentary panel, made up of three lawyers appointed by parliament.
On Monday (today), the ANC's top body, the National Executive Committee, would meet to discuss the matter.
On Tuesday, the report will be presented to parliament for consideration and there will be a vote on whether to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president.
In South Africa, impeachment means impeachment.
The scandal, with its colorful details of over half a million dollars in cash hidden under couch cushions, comes at the worst possible time for Ramaphosa.
On December 16, he will run for president of the ANC, a position that also holds the key to remaining the country's president.
However, on Saturday, Ramaphosa's spokesperson said the president would challenge the parliamentary report in court.
"President Ramaphosa is not resigning on the basis of a flawed report, nor is he stepping down," said Vincent Magwenya.
"It is in the long-term interests...of our constitutional democracy, well beyond the Ramaphosa presidency, that such a clearly flawed report be challenged, especially when used as a point of view. benchmark for removing a sitting head of state,” he added.
A majority is needed to trigger the impeachment process and if initiated, a two-thirds majority would be needed to impeach the president.
AFP
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