Opposition parties are gearing themselves for an impeachment order against Cyril Ramaphosa following the finding of the Parliamentary Panel Report published yesterday.
The findings of the investigation into the robbery at Ramaphosa’s farm, handed over yesterday Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakulaby by retired Justice Sandile Ngcobo found there was a prima facie case against the president.
Opposition parties are however pushing for his impeachment, with the Democratic Alliance, ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters leading the charge. The report will first be discussed and debated at a sitting of Parliament next week on December 6.
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba said Ramaphosa must resign or face impeachment without further delay.
“South Africa cannot afford more years of another President with criminal charges to answer for at a time when our country needs ethical leadership. ActionSA has always maintained that President Ramaphosa’s conduct in this regard was criminal and he should vacate his office and spare the country any further humiliation of his creation.
“We have also maintained that there is no ‘good ANC’ or ‘bad ANC’. That the ANC is a criminal enterprise, and our position has been vindicated by this latest development. South Africans deserve a president whose leadership is beyond reproach and after Jacob Zuma, now Cyril, it is clear that ethical leadership cannot be found in the ANC,” said Mashaba.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the party welcomed the damning, scathing and definitive findings by the Independent Panel. He said the findings were tantamount to a betrayal of South Africa by a man who has been entrusted with upholding, defending and advancing this country’s laws.
“It is of more concern that the Panel has found that Ramaphosa deliberately had the intention to conceal the crime, by asking Namibian Policing Authorities to handle the investigation of the crime with discretion.
“This shows that there were underhanded tactics and the likelihood of abduction and torture gained credibility from the secretive nature of the investigation. Further to this, the Panel confirms our long-held suspicion, that the amount kept in the sofas and furniture of Ramaphosa far exceeds that which was reported, including the dirty money which was given by a Sudanese businessman to Ramaphosa’s employees under his instruction under the pretence of purchasing buffaloes,” Thambo said.
“Critically, the Independent Panel has affirmed the long-held position by the EFF, which stated that the fact that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) had to investigate the origins of the millions of foreign currency, means that Ramaphosa did not declare the currency to the SARB.
“This was exposed through a Parliamentary question posed by the EFF to the SARB. The EFF re-affirms that Ramaphosa runs a sophisticated money laundering operation in which he uses his employees to avoid direct accountability.
“The EFF calls for Cyril Ramaphosa to step down as the President of South Africa and avoid further putting South Africa in the same ranks of a criminal underworld which launders money, tortures human beings and conceals crimes through thuggery and deceit,” he said.
Ramaphosa has always maintained that the robbery happened at his farm, but denied any claims of criminal conduct. He said the money was obtained from the sale of Game at the Farm. Addressing an ANC gathering in Limpopo shortly after the scandal broke, he said he had not committed a crime and people were trying to discredit him.
The President further stated he would wait for Parliament to consider the report and determine the most appropriate way forward.
“I have endeavoured, throughout my tenure as President, not only to abide by my oath but to set an example of respect for the Constitution, for its institutions, for due process and the law. I categorically deny that I have violated this oath in any way, and I similarly deny that I am guilty of any of the allegations made against me,” he said.