Africa-Press – South-Africa. President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has rejected calls for his resignation following the discovery of foreign currency hidden in a couch at his farm.
In a televised address to the nation, Ramaphosa stated that he respects the Constitutional Court’s decision that revived impeachment proceedings last week, but he vowed to defend himself.
Ramaphosa said, “Despite calls from some quarters for me to resign, the ruling of the Constitutional Court does not compel me to step down from my position.”
The scandal, dubbed “Farmgate” by local media, has been a significant embarrassment for Ramaphosa since it erupted in 2022, when he took office promising to combat corruption and improve the image of his party, the African National Congress.
Political analysts have predicted that Ramaphosa will attempt to refute the allegations of misconduct against him, but he is facing increasing pressure ahead of the municipal elections in November, where his party is expected to perform poorly.
Independent political analyst Daniel Silke remarked, “The timing is extremely poor… from the perspective of the African National Congress.” The African National Congress has called for an extraordinary meeting of its National Executive Committee on Tuesday to discuss the steps to be taken.
In 2022, the African National Congress thwarted impeachment proceedings against the president through a parliamentary vote, but the Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that the vote was invalid, emphasizing the need for further investigations into the theft allegations.
Ramaphosa, who has been in office since 2018, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that thieves stole $580,000 from a couch at his farm “Phala Phala” in 2020, while a former intelligence official claimed that the stolen amount was at least $4 million.
The theft has raised questions about how Ramaphosa acquired such a large sum, whether he disclosed it, and why he hid it in furniture instead of depositing it in a bank.
Ramaphosa, a wealthy businessman before assuming the presidency, has stated that the funds represent proceeds from the sale of buffalo. An investigation by the central bank concluded that he did not violate exchange control regulations.
Analysts believe that the road ahead for impeachment proceedings is still long, and Ramaphosa is likely to survive if the matter is put to a parliamentary vote. Impeachment requires a two-thirds majority, and although the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections, it still holds about 40% of the seats in the National Assembly.
The “Umkhonto weSizwe” party, associated with former president Jacob Zuma, sent a message to the Speaker of the National Assembly over the weekend, demanding a date for a vote of no confidence against Ramaphosa.
Analysts suggest that the no-confidence motion, which requires a simple majority to pass, is unlikely to succeed, as Ramaphosa is expected to receive support from most members of the African National Congress and key coalition partners, such as the Democratic Alliance.
