ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign despite mounting political pressure following the Constitutional Court ruling that revived impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala scandal.
The remarks follow a judgment by the Constitutional Court of South Africa in a case brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters challenging the National Assembly’s decision on Section 89 proceedings against him. According to the Government Communication and Information System, the court’s decision has significant implications for the country’s political landscape.
Phala Phala Scandal Timeline
The Phala Phala scandal has been ongoing for several months, with various twists and turns. Here are some key events in the timeline:
- The scandal broke in June 2022, with reports of a burglary at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
- In July 2022, the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) discussed the matter and decided to support Ramaphosa.
- In August 2022, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) brought a case to the Constitutional Court, challenging the National Assembly’s decision on Section 89 proceedings against Ramaphosa.
Mantashe said Ramaphosa was prepared to follow all due processes. “He is relaxed. He is calm. He is ready to go through a process. He will not take shortcuts that everybody expects of him, to just resign and walk away.
As the Parliament of South Africa prepares to establish an impeachment committee to deal with the Phala Phala matter, the country waits with bated breath to see what the outcome will be. The ANC has called an urgent NEC meeting on Monday to discuss the court ruling and the way forward.
Implications for the ANC
The Phala Phala scandal has significant implications for the ANC, with some sources suggesting that it could weaken the organisation even further. The ANC’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has called for calm and urged members to allow the process to take its course.
