What next for the president?

MINISTER in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said President Cyril Ramaphosa is well, following the release of a damning report.

An independent panel, appointed by the speaker of Parliament, on Wednesday found preliminary evidence that Ramaphosa had violated his oath of office, findings that could lead to his eventual impeachment.

The president has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.

The recommendations were made by a three-member panel set up to inquire if Ramaphosa should be impeached after millions of dollars in cash was allegedly stolen at his private farm, Phala Phala.

Gungubele told journalists in Cape Town that Ramaphosa is studying the detailed report, which has caused tremors on the political scene.

“How’s the president? He is fine. He was able to issue a statement yesterday and express his view on the matter thus far, and committed that he is studying the findings, he also expressed the predicament it has placed the country in . . . he also said an announcement is going to be made in due course,” said Gungubele.

“Our attitude is that we should respect that exercise. These are not findings you can easily wake up and say, this is what I think. We respect that.”

Gungubele said regarding Ramaphosa’s future, he cannot say at this stage.

“The president said he will make a pronouncement in due course. I know at times when these developments occur, there is an attempt to make us prophets, trying to do fortune-telling. Let us await the president,” said Gungubele.

“The point I want to make is . . . up to this point, the president has respected the laws of this country. He subjected himself to this process, up to this point. We have not seen anything untoward in as far as the laws of this country are concerned.”

Meanwhile, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has called on Ramaphosa to step aside immediately.

Dlamini Zuma made the call while speaking on the JJ Tabane show Power to Truth on ENCA on Wednesday evening.

Dlamini Zuma’s call also comes amid mounting pressure for Ramaphosa to resign or face an impeachment process, having been found to have violated several sections of the Constitution over how he handled the matter that dates back to February 2020.

Reacting to Dlamini Zuma’s calls, Gungubele said the clamouring is not new.

“The call for president to step aside did not come for the first time yesterday. It has been ongoing. To us, it is not new. All we are calling on South Africans is that the president said he is studying the findings, and in his own statement he will make a pronouncement in due course,” said Gungubele.

“We strongly call on South Africans for indulgence (and) to actually await that (announcement).”

At the same briefing, Gungubele said Ramaphosa should be given the opportunity to fully study the report. He said the matter around the money at Phala Phala is a very complex issue.