South Africa: ANC meets in 'emergency' over calls for Ramaphosa's impeachment

Calls for the resignation or impeachment of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have multiplied since the publication of a report implicating him, in particular by many newspapers, such as here in Cape Town, on December 1, 2022. © Esa Alexander / Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

While South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure for an " 

 " speech, the leaders of his African National Congress (ANC) party called an " 

 " meeting on Friday, December 2.

This to discuss the report suspecting the president of possible " 

 " after the discovery of large sums of money in his home.

If he could be deposed, the moment is also delicate for the ANC, which must choose a new leader.

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This

while the party of the South African president is preparing an important meeting: in mid-December, the post of president of the ANC is again at stake and the party is experiencing

internal

The incumbent would be likely to be the head of the South African state after the general elections of 2024 if the ANC remains in the majority.

All day Thursday, Cyril Ramaphosa consulted within his party, according to his spokesman Vincent Magwenya.

Would be under study " 

 ".

Is the option of resignation on the table?

Will the South African president - 

particular on the promise to fight against corruption - risk seeing Parliament study the possibility of an impeachment procedure next Tuesday?

The first opposition party, DA, calls for early elections.

The president in the hot seat since June

The Head of State has been suspected of corruption and violation of the Constitution since June in a

whose origin is suspicious.

More than $500,000 in cash had been discovered by burglars in 2020 at his cattle farm called Phala Phala.

Before the commission mandated by Parliament, Cyril Ramaphosa had presented his version: the money came from the sale of buffaloes to a Sudanese client and the cushions of a sofa in the guest room had seemed safer than the safe. , according to an employee.

But the president is accused of not having declared the incident to the police or to the tax authorities.

The president's spokesperson refuses to comment on his agenda for the next few days

Faced with the case, the future of Cyril Ramaphosa is now written in dotted lines and his spokesperson even refuses to comment on the president's agenda for the next few days, reports our correspondent in Johannesburg,

.

When the News24 media evokes a very probable resignation of the head of state, the spokesperson admits that “ 

 ”.

The publication on Wednesday of the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the affair has shaken the presidency: " 

 ", underlines Vincent Magwenya, a situation which requires not not react in haste or in emotion, they say in the presidency.

In the meantime, Cyril Ramaphosa consults at all costs, in particular the executives of his party. 

Tuesday, December 6, Parliament must debate the report of the commission of inquiry and the National Assembly could open the way to a dismissal procedure.

Will Cyril Ramaphosa be resigned, dismissed from the defensive?

The Head of State should make " 

 ", repeated Vincent Magwenya, to say what his future will look like.

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• South Africa

• Cyril Ramaphosa

• Justice

• Corruption