Cape Town - President Cyril Ramaphosa is living on borrowed time as a groundswell of voices from his opponents outside and from within the ANC call for him to resign.
Ramaphosa kept the country on tenterhooks last night amid reports that he was expected to make an announcement during his customary “family meeting” timeslot.
But, at the 11th hour, spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that the president was “processing” the damning Phala Phala report, which could lead to his impeachment, and that an announcement was “imminent”.
The three-member panel led by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo found that Ramaphosa had cases of misconduct, corruption and violation of the Constitution to answer for following the theft of millions of dollars from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February 2020.
The release of the explosive Section 89 Independent Report on Wednesday has rocked the presidency a fortnight before the ANC’s crucial 55th national elective conference, where Ramaphosa would run for re-election as president of the ruling party.
In a media briefing last night, Magwenya said Ramaphosa appreciated the “urgency” of the issue at hand, its magnitude, and “what it means for the country and the stability of government”.
“As a result of that, (Ramaphosa) is still processing the report and, in that exercise, he’s also engaging a number of role-players across the governing party, different levels of the governing party, the alliance and a broad range of stakeholders in appreciation of the enormity of the matter,” Magwenya said.
He said South Africa’s democracy was in “an unprecedented and extraordinary moment”.
Magwenya said whatever decision Ramaphosa makes has to be “informed by the best interests of the country” and it “cannot be rushed and taken in haste”.
He apologised for the misunderstanding stemming from an earlier radio interview, which he said created the impression that Ramaphosa would address the country last night, but he stressed that the decision was “still imminent”.
Asked if the president was planning to resign, a non-committal Magwenya said at the Union Buildings: “All options are on the table.”
Commenting on reports of senior ANC members’ calling for Ramaphosa to step aside, Magwenya said: “I can’t talk to a specific option because that would be misleading and would create a wrong impression – that he is looking at a specific option … He’s consulting.
“It’s not about which option is best for him. It’s about what course of action does he take that is in the best interest of the country right now. It’s not a decision that he can make based on emotions, it’s a decision that he needs to carefully consider in the interest of the country.
“He’s not panicking, that I can assure you.”
Magwenya stuck to a line of answering and stopped himself from repeating statements on one occasion.
Magwenya said he would provide an update on Ramaphosa’s programme over the next couple of days, after the president cancelled several important engagements, including an appearance in the upper house of Parliament.
A national executive committee (NEC) member told the Cape Argus on Thursday that executive members were summoned to a special physical meeting in Gauteng this morning, and had to abandon a planned virtual meeting last night.
Speaking to the Cape Argus last night, Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane said Ramaphosa is “distracted” while leading a country that is on pins and needles with millions of unemployed people.
He suggested South Africans appoint a transitional government while Ramaphosa deals with his legal matters.
“This is a big moment for our country and it must be treated with the respect it deserves.
“My difficulty is that he treats this matter as though it’s only being recently uncovered now.”
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said: “Let’s give him a chance to do that (to consider his options).
“His spokesperson uyaphapha (is too forward). There was no need for him to make that announcement (on radio). These boys need training and education.
“Let’s wait for Cyril to continue consulting the NEC’s meeting (today). There is nothing to worry about, the report is out.”
Earlier on Thursday, opposition parties and a union ganged up in a chorus of criticism against Ramaphosa, while his confidante and Presidency Minister Mondli Gungubele backed his besieged ally.
DA leader John Steenhuisen announced the DA’s bid to dissolve Parliament so that early elections could take place.
“Impeachment proceedings into his conduct must go ahead, and he will have to offer far better, more comprehensive explanations than we have been given so far.
The country cannot “leave it up to 4 000 bribed and compromised delegates at an ANC conference to choose the future of our country. That choice has to be made by all the people of South Africa in an early election,” Steenhuisen said.
In a video shared by the EFF, leader Julius Malema said: “Cyril must leave with nothing. He has violated the people of South Africa and his own party. ANC workers go for days without salaries but a man is sleeping on top of dollars. Those cowards are quiet, all of them.”
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— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) December 1, 2022
On the 14th of July 2022, CIC @Julius_S_Malema reiterated the call for Cyril Ramaphosa to step down as the President of South Africa.
Ramaphosa is not above the law.#RamaphosaMustGo pic.twitter.com/bL0ucPpZYd
South African Federation of Trade Unions called for Ramaphosa’s resignation.
Gungubele echoed the president’s statement issued on Wednesday night when he promised to make an announcement soon.
“Up to this point, the president has respected the law,” he said in a press briefing in Parliament. Gungubele said the panel’s prima facie findings don’t necessarily mean Ramaphosa is guilty.
Ramaphosa had submitted to the panel a 138-page response to the accusations made by former spy boss Arthur Fraser, who listed allegations of kidnapping, money laundering in relation to an alleged $4m stashed in a sofa, torturing, among others.
By Ramaphosa’s own admission, his workers hid $580 000 in a sofa.