Johannesburg – With opposition parties baying for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, following the three-member panel adverse report, the GOOD party has bucked the trend.
The demands for “immediate resignation” have been growing louder since the panel comprising – Ngcobo, retired judge Thokozile Masipa, and Advocate Mahlape Sello said in its report there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa “may have” breached his oath of office – something the President vehemently denied.
In the report released Wednesday, the panel said regarding the 2020 robbery and alleged cover-up at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm, “we conclude” that this information discloses, prima facie, that the President “may have” committed:
- Serious violation of sections 96(2)(a).
- Serious violation of section 34(1) of PRECCA (Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act).
- Serious misconduct in that the President violated section 96(2)(b) by acting in a way that is inconsistent with his office.
- Serious misconduct in that the President violated section 96(2)(b) by exposing himself to a situation involving a conflict between his official responsibilities and his private business. of the Constitution.
With Ramaphosa still mulling over the report, the GOOD party on Friday urged him not to resign or be bullied into resigning.
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“President Cyril Ramaphosa should not contemplate, nor be bullied into resigning on the basis of the untested findings of the Independent Panel in respect of cash stolen from his farm,” said Brett Herron, GOOD secretary-general and Member of Parliament.
“If reports are to be believed, Ramaphosa was on the verge of resigning yesterday and is still contemplating doing so,” Herron said.
“That would be premature. Although it would set a new, admirable and extremely high standard for the principles of accountability, if the President is not guilty of any crimes, as he has strenuously averred, he should remain at his desk and clear his name.
“That would be in the best interests of the country.”‘
The GOOD party, however, acknowledged the possibility that Ramaphosa remaining in his seat would likely precipitate a “feeding frenzy” among his enemies, inside and outside his African National Congress (ANC).
“But if he were simply to walk away now it would plunge the country into a leadership crisis with potentially devastating short-term stability and socio-economic impacts,” warned Herron.
“The Independent Panel did not find Ramaphosa guilty of anything. Rather, the panel, conducting a preliminary assessment, and on its own version made its recommendations with limited facts at its disposal.
“It recommended that the President had a prima facie case to answer. Ramaphosa must have the opportunity to present his case, first in the parliamentary impeachment process and then potentially in court.”
Meanwhile, Corruption Watch said democratic processes, which are in possession of evidence, to address the matter swiftly and as a matter of priority, as part of their commitment to the principle of accountability.
Corruption Watch said there was no room for unnecessary delays by either implicated parties or regulatory and law enforcement bodies, which could potentially derail the process and disrupt the momentum.
“In a country beset by corruption scandals over a protracted period of time that have eroded institutions, hollowed out the economy, and seriously impacted service delivery, South Africans deserve answers,” says Karam Singh, executive director of Corruption Watch.
“For a President to be charged with such serious violations of the laws of the land is yet another crisis for a country already struggling to overcome a slew of challenges, many of them related to corruption. It is imperative that the democratic process is allowed to unfold, and that no one is allowed to act with impunity.”
Commenting on the matter, ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe said the report was “badly written” because was not assertive.
https://www.enca.com/news/watch-mantashe-trashes-phala-phala-report
The ANC top brass is deliberating the matter.