South African President Cyril Ramaphosa can breathe a sigh of relief following strong backing from the ruling African National Congress’ national executive committee (NEC)’s decision to absolve him of any wrongdoing as regards the independent parliamentary panel report which was expected to be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
The report, which was handed over to Parliament last week by retired Justice Sandile Ngcobo and was rejected on Monday by the NEC, found the president had committed a serious violation of the law and serious misconduct in terms of the constitution in the matter of a Phala Phala farm robbery that took place in Limpopo province in February 2020.
The document was scheduled to be discussed on Tuesday for the entire House to decide on the impeachment proceedings by the lawmakers against the president.
However, the NEC met on Monday with Ramaphosa present to discuss his fate before he recused himself to give the members in what he said was a chance to discuss the Phala Phala matter freely without any inhibitions.
What transpired after the meeting was that the NEC ordered its lawmakers to vote against the adoption of the panel report in the National Assembly on Tuesday, acting ANC Secretary-General Paul Mashatile announced.
The president, therefore, has for now survived the onslaught from his detractors, within and outside the ANC, who have been calling for his resignation – a sigh of relief not taken lightly by the ANC leader.
Mashatile said the NEC decided Ramaphosa must continue with his duties as president of the ANC and South Africa.
In addition, he said the NEC decided to vote against the report into the theft at his Phala Phala farm because he was taking it on a judicial review at the Constitutional Court.
Ramaphosa on Monday filed court papers to review the impeachment report by the independent panel
The ANC national working committee (NWC) meeting on Sunday rejected the report, saying there was no basis for Ramaphosa to resign over the report.
“It means [the] president continues his duties. The NEC agreed the president must continue to be held accountable,” Mashatile said.
NM/as/APA