South Africa’s President Ramaphosa in peril as panel sees case for impeachment
- Independent panel found preliminary evidence that President Cyril Ramaphosa violated his oath of office
- The president, who has not been charged with any crimes, immediately denied any wrongdoing
An advisory panel established by South Africa’s parliament found there are grounds for lawmakers to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa in connection with a scandal over a robbery at his game farm, weakening his chances of winning a second term.
“In light of all the information placed before the panel, we conclude that this information discloses, prima facie, that the president may have committed” violations of sections of the constitution, it said in the report published on Wednesday.
Lawmakers are scheduled to debate the report’s findings on December 6, and the governing African National Congress will have to decide whether to block its adoption.
If it’s accepted, a panel of lawmakers will be established to investigate the president’s conduct and it could take months, or even years to complete its work.
The party could, however, decide to sanction the president, or even call on him to step down in the interim.
A former trade union leader and one of the wealthiest black South Africans, the 70-year-old Ramaphosa has widely been expected to win a second term as ANC leader when it holds its five-yearly elective conference that begins on December 16. The ANC was scheduled to hold a special meeting of its executive body on Thursday.