EPA
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South African President Ramaphosa, accused of corruption, has the support of the leaders of his own party, the African National Congress (ANC). He is accused in a case involving the theft of a large sum of money from his game ranch.
A parliamentary commission of inquiry produced a critical report on this. It appeared last week and was supposed to be debated in parliament tomorrow, but was postponed until next Tuesday.
The party leadership has decided after a weekend of consultations that ANC MPs will vote against a possible impeachment procedure. The ruling party has a large majority in parliament.
Anti-corruptionwet
The report said there are indications of misconduct and possible violation of the constitution by Ramaphosa. He also allegedly violated an anti-corruption law.
Today it became clear that Ramaphosa has applied to the Constitutional Court to have the report declared illegal.
Sell buffalo
Ramaphosa was discredited last summer when a Zuma supporter claimed the president had covered up a theft. A large amount of money was allegedly stolen from his hunting farm. The money is said to have been hidden in a sofa.
The president admitted the money had been stolen, but said it was $580,000 and not $4 million, as previously claimed. The huge amount is said to come from buffalo sales. The Commission of Inquiry states in the report that there are “significant doubts” about this interpretation.
The 70-year-old head of state came to power in 2018 on a pledge to fight corruption. He succeeded Jacob Zuma, who also belongs to the ANC. The party is therefore divided between supporters of Zuma and those of Ramaphosa.
