President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday it was up to the governing party’s national executive committee to decide his future in the face of allegations of misconduct against him.
JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday it was up to the governing party’s national executive committee (NEC) to decide his future in the face of allegations of misconduct against him.
Ramaphosa, who said he would attend an NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, is fighting for his political future after a panel of experts found he may have violated his oath of office in regards to millions of dollars allegedly found at his private game farm, Phala Phala.
Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.
The president’s allies have rallied around him and on Saturday his spokesman said he would not resign.
The governing ANC’s national working committee (NWC) was meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday to discuss the panel’s report.
Ramaphosa said he would not take part in those discussions.
“I have been recused from the (NWC) meeting because they’re going to discuss the panel’s report, and … it’s always best when the matter … affects a person personally that it should be discussed in their absence,” Ramaphosa said.
“It is up to the national executive committee, to which I am accountable, to take whatever decision (it deems fit).”
A spokesperson from the president’s office said on Saturday that Ramaphosa would not resign and would seek a second term as leader of the ANC after allies rallied behind him to stay on.
“President Ramaphosa is not resigning based on a flawed report, neither is he stepping aside,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told journalists by text message.
“The president has taken to heart the unequivocal message coming from the branches of the governing party who have nominated him to avail himself for a 2nd term of the leadership of the ANC.”
The president would challenge the report and its findings, the spokesperson said.
“It is in the long-term interest and sustainability of our constitutional democracy… that such a clearly flawed report is challenged.”
– REUTERS
