Opposition United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa on Monday called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down from office and hand over power to South Africa’s Constitutional Court until the 2024 polls are held to form a new government.
The outspoken Holomisa blamed the ruling African National Congress’ National Executive Committee, which is made up of six members led by Ramaphosa, of “messing up the government and must leave.”
Holomisa said he was, therefore, calling for an interim government to take over the running of the country due to reports that the ANC was divided by factions within the party.
According to the UDM leader, ANC secretary general Ace Magashule’s faction was planning a shutdown of the country following the party’s ruling that Magashule should step aside over alleged fraud and money laundering charges when he was Free State provincial premier.
Magashule and 14 other party members were given 30 days to step down from their positions by a NEC resolution two weeks ago till their court cases are over.
Failure to step aside, suspensions from the party would follow, the NEC resolved at the contentious meeting.
Holomisa proposed that the ANC executive should hand over power to the country’s Constitutional Court till the party had its house in order.
“The Constitutional Court will, together with South Africans, discuss as to what kind of interim government to have between now and 2024, a period when the ANC will have an opportunity to self-correct outside the government,” he said.
According to Holomisa, the interim arrangement could work with Parliament for the next three years till the polls are held.
The presidency was yet to respond to the opposition leader’s proposal when APA went to press.
NM/jn/APA