By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The special ANC NEC has resolved that it will vote against the adoption of the report of the section 89 panel given the fact that the president Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the report on review.
Addressing the media following the NEC’s meeting on Monday, ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, said the decision was taken on the basis that Ramaphosa is taken the report on review.
Ramaphosa has asked the Constitutional Court to set aside the “unlawful” section 89 report that could end his career.
He also wants the apex court to declare that “any steps” taken as a result of the panel report on the February 2020 break-in at his Phala-Phala farm are “unlawful and invalid” – meaning that any inquiry that he may face as a result of that report would be quashed.
Mashatile said the NEC did not take any decision for Ramaphosa should step down nor did he offer to resign.
“There was no decision that he can’t continue,” the treasurer-general said.
He further denied the suggestion that the ANC was shielding Ramaphosa.
“We are not preventing the president from accounting… there are other processes currently underway. The president will continue to be held accountable.”
He also said NEC members “engaged extensively on the report, discussed the report fully and frankly.”
The NEC deliberated on the Phala Phala scandal following the Section 89 panel’s finding, in its report, that the president has a case to answer on the February 2020 robbery.
The National Working Committee (NWC) also met on Sunday, and recommended that ANC members in Parliament vote against the panel’s report.
A two-thirds majority is needed when voting takes place in the National Assembly on Tuesday.