By Rorisang Rampheteng:
PRETORIA — President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will not resign following the Constitutional Court judgment linked to the controversial Phala Phala scandal, insisting that the ruling does not require him to step down.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation during a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Monday evening after the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment process was flawed and unconstitutional in certain aspects.
The case was brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters, which challenged the National Assembly’s decision not to proceed with impeachment proceedings against the President in 2022.“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said.
The Phala Phala scandal emerged after allegations that a large amount of foreign currency was stolen from Ramaphosa’s private game farm in Limpopo in 2020. Opposition parties questioned the origin of the money and accused the President of failing to properly report the theft.
An independent parliamentary panel previously found that Ramaphosa “may have committed serious misconduct and a serious violation of the Constitution.”
Despite the allegations, Ramaphosa denied wrongdoing and said the Constitutional Court did not make any finding against him personally.
“The Constitutional Court made no finding of any kind regarding my alleged conduct,” he said. Ramaphosa also announced plans to challenge the panel’s report through a judicial review, saying he believes the findings are flawed.
The judgment has intensified political pressure on the President, with opposition parties expected to continue pushing for accountability as Parliament prepares for the next stage of the impeachment process. – @NewsSA_Online
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