Cape Town - The ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to recuse himself from an important meeting to discuss the Phala Phala report as the opposition ramped-up pressure on him.
This as his lawyers indicated on Sunday, according to reports, that Ramaphosa would challenge the findings of the panel that found he had a case to answer on several counts.
Parties in Parliament met over the weekend and resolved that Ramaphosa should step down, while the ANC’s decision on whether he should be recalled could be made today.
No pronouncement was made about the outcome of the NWC.
The ANC NWC discussed the independent panel’s report, which probed the Phala Phala burglary aftermath, including allegations of torture and money laundering of more than R4m in cold cash, among other claims made by former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser.
The NWC consists of the party’s top six, 20 other ANC leaders and three ex-officio members representing the ANC Youth League, Veterans League and Women’s League.
Politicians and citizens have been hawkishly following Ramaphosa’s next decision after the panel found that he may have a case to answer in relation to the Phala Phala fallout – amid calls for his resignation and his reported initial decision to resign.
Speaking to an improptu media briefing at Nasrec, Ramaphosa said: “I have been recused from the meeting because they’re going to discuss the panel report.”
He said his absence from the meeting was for the best.
He confirmed he would attend a meeting by the party’s second most powerful structure, the national executive committee meeting, today.
Eleven of the 14 opposition parties met in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng and agreed that they wanted to see the back of Ramaphosa.
In a statement, the opposition forum – DA, EFF, IFP, FF Plus, ACDP, UDM, NFP, ATM, AIC, COPE and PAC – issued a statement about their meeting in Ekurhuleni on Saturday night.
They called for a “defence” of the Constitution and expressed concerns about the delayed investigations by acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, the SA Reserve Bank and the Hawks.
“The delays seem to be part of an attempt to cover up the alleged crimes committed, including the alleged violations of SA’s laws, abductions, and money laundering,” the 11 parties said in a statement.
GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron told the Cape Argus that they don’t support calls for Ramaphosa’s resignation or him deciding to resign, based on “his claims that the allegations are false and he has not committed any serious breach of the constitution or law”.
He said GOOD didn’t join the meeting as it isn’t part of any grouping that has little in common, “except the same enemy – the ANC”.
The forum agreed that the December 6 parliamentary sitting to discuss the Phala Phala report must ensure that a decision to establish the impeachment (Section 89) committee is taken.
They will also table a proposal to have Parliament extended beyond December 6 to accommodate an extensive approach with no delays.
The parties also resolved that:
● Parliament must sit physically on December 6 to avoid “a situation in which represented political parties lock up MPs in private venues that are not protected and secure for Parliament and MPs”.
● That all parties must vote for the impeachment process to begin as “not doing so would not pass the rationality test”.
● “Voting against the panel’s) recommendations will be a violation of Parliament’s obligation to hold the executive accountable, and previous rulings of the Constitutional Court have condemned Parliament’s lack of oversight and vigilance over the executive.”
● That either the DA or the EFF table a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa before the sitting begins.
The 11 opposition parties will also address a media briefing where they will outline their strategy seeking to oust Ramaphosa.
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