Faith Nyasuguta
South Africa’s head of state Cyril Ramaphosa has officially filed court papers to have a report which revealed that he may have violated the nation’s constitution reviewed.
Ramaphosa wants the Constitutional Court to declare the findings of the panel unlawful and to set them aside.
He went ahead to mention that the panel went beyond its scope when looking at whether he had a case to answer related to a robbery at his Phala Phala farm.
In the filed papers, the head of state is also asking the court to declare that any steps taken by parliament on the back of the release of the report to be declared unlawful and invalid.
The report is set to be debated by members of parliament on Tuesday this week.
Opposition party leaders have mentioned that they will use the opportunity to call for the establishment of a committee to look into the impeachment of the president.
The executive committee of his ruling African National Congress met on Monday (December 5) to discuss allegations that he may have committed misconduct and violated his oath of office.
The report allegad that large sums of foreign currency were hidden at Ramaphosa’s game farm, and that he failed to report the money missing when it was stolen in 2020.
while at the executive committee meeting ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile announced the governing party’s decision.
He said the ANC would vote in parliament against adoption of the panel report.
“It is the view of the ANC, of the NEC, that the decision that we take is in the best interests of the country – let the president continue with his responsibilities until such time that all these processes requires that he can’t continue.”
The scandal, dubbed “Farmgate” by the media, only came to light in June.
It has raised questions over how Ramaphosa – who came to power promising to fight corruption – acquired the cash and whether he declared it.
Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.
