An unbiased panel appointed by the speaker of South Africa’s parliament has discovered preliminary proof that President Cyril Ramaphosa violated his oath of workplace, findings that would result in his eventual impeachment.
Parliament is about to look at the report, which was submitted on Wednesday, and resolve whether or not to push forward with impeachment proceedings subsequent week.
This comes simply weeks earlier than an elective convention that can resolve if Ramaphosa will get to run for a second time period on the governing African Nationwide Congress’s (ANC) ticket at 2024 polls.
The president instantly denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.
“I categorically deny that I’ve violated this oath in any method, and I equally deny that I’m responsible of any of the allegations made towards me,” Ramaphosa mentioned in a press release issued by the South African presidency after the findings had been launched on Wednesday.
In June, it emerged that an estimated $4m in money was stolen from Ramaphosa’s sport farm in 2020, elevating questions on how the billionaire president, who took to energy on the promise of combating corruption, acquired the cash and whether or not he declared it.
The three-person panel was arrange in September and tasked with ascertaining whether or not there was enough proof to indicate that Ramaphosa dedicated a severe violation of the structure or the regulation or grave misconduct, Nationwide Meeting speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula mentioned when she was handed the report earlier on Wednesday.
The panel mentioned Ramaphosa ought to face additional scrutiny on his skill to remain in workplace.
“In all of the circumstances, we predict that the proof offered to the Panel, prima facie, establishes that the president could also be responsible of a severe violation of sure sections of the structure,” the report discovered.
These embrace not reporting the theft on to police, appearing in a method inconsistent with holding workplace and exposing himself to a conflict between his official tasks and his non-public enterprise.
Whereas Ramaphosa has confirmed {that a} theft occurred at his farm, he mentioned the money was from proceeds from the gross sales of sport. He has denied breaking the regulation or any rules referring to his workplace.
‘Untenable place’
John Steenhuisen, the chief of South Africa’s primary opposition get together, the Democratic Alliance (DA), mentioned Ramaphosa was in a good bind, Reuters information company reported.
“The report itself leaves the president in a nearly untenable place, notably because it pertains to his personal get together’s step-aside guidelines and the sturdy line that he has taken towards others inside his get together,” he mentioned.
Ramaphosa got here to energy in 2018 on a promise to root out graft after the corruption-stained period of his former boss, Jacob Zuma, and has typically insisted that any get together official accused of corruption depart workplace pending investigations.
The alleged cover-up has tarnished the president’s repute and overshadowed his bid for re-election on the helm of the ANC.
Ramaphosa, 70, is the favorite to win on the ruling get together’s December 16-20 convention, the place he faces a problem from Zweli Mkhize, 66, an ex-health minister who resigned from the federal government final yr amid corruption allegations.
In November, the spokesperson to the president, Vincent Magwenya, advised journalists that Ramaphosa would “gladly step apart” if he had been to be criminally charged.
The possibilities of impeachment are slim given the ANC’s dominance of parliament, the place it holds 230 seats, or practically 60 % of the overall, and usually votes alongside get together traces. Impeaching a president requires a two-thirds majority.
Ramaphosa is anticipated to reply questions in parliament on Thursday and will face a troublesome time from opposition politicians.
The inquiry is separate from a felony investigation that police are conducting, and which Ramaphosa has welcomed.
The report will likely be debated within the nationwide meeting on December 6, mentioned the speaker, Mapisa-Nqakula.