President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)
WHILE ANC provincial chairperson Dr Zamani Saul was attending the party’s national executive committee meeting on Monday to discuss the fate of President Cyril Ramaphosa amid the Phala Phala scandal, opposition parties in the Northern Cape believe that the honourable thing for him to do would be to step down.
Saul was reported to be among Ramaphosa’s allies who convinced him not to withdraw from the ANC presidential race. Ramaphosa is expected to contest against former health minister Zweli Mhkize in two weeks' time at the ANC national elective conference.
Ramaphosa indicated on the weekend that he would not resign.
An open ballot will be held in the National Assembly on Tuesday where members of Parliament will vote on whether Ramaphosa should face an impeachment enquiry.
An independent panel led by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ncgobo found prima facie evidence that the president might have violated his oath of office, where he never formally reported the missing $580,000 in foreign currency that was stashed in a sofa at his farm in Limpopo in February 2020.
DA Northern Cape leader Harold McGluwa said on Monday that the DA had submitted a motion to dissolve the National Assembly.
“The Section 89 independent panel report into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s alleged wrongdoings in the Phala Phala matter has left him deeply compromised, regardless of the outcome of the possible review.
While President Ramaphosa fights for his political future, significant damage has been done to the country,” said McGluwa.
He was of the opinion that should the impeachment process succeed, the country would be led by Deputy President David Mabuza.
“Given the current crisis faced by South Africa, the answer to this crisis therefore lies in an early election. It is in the best interests of all South Africans that we head to the polls next year,” said McGluwa.
“People should be given the opportunity to decide their own future through an early election instead of forcing them to endure another 18 months of suffering under the instability of the ANC government, which is poisoned by in-fighting.”
FF+ member of the provincial legislature Daniel Coetzee called on Ramaphosa to step aside until the investigation had been completed.
“No one should be considered above the law, just because you are a sitting president,” said Coetzee.
He added that Ramaphosa was obliged to provide answers to the nation.
“It will set a precedent if he is allowed to evade any consequences or disregard the laws and regulations of the country. We cannot make special concessions, for fear of who is left to take over should Ramaphosa step down as president. No one is indispensable.”
Patriotic Alliance national chairperson Marlon Daniels believed that Ramaphosa was being protected.
“It cannot be coincidental that the money mysteriously landed at Phala Phala farm while the national elective conference and 2024 national government elections are around the corner. How do you account for millions of dollars in foreign currency to the South African Revenue Service and authorities if it was sourced from dubious origins. I believe that he should step down,” said Daniels.
The EFF in the Province stated that the matter was being handled by their national office.
EFF leader Julius Malema on Monday urged for Ramaphosa to be put behind bars for allegedly violating the Constitution and the Prevention of Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and that he be denied his retirement benefits.