By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has recused himself from the African National Congress (ANC) national executive meeting (NEC) in Nasrec.
The ANC NEC convened a special sitting to discuss the Section 89 independent panel report on Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm saga.
The independent panel’s finding, in its report, that there was prima facie evidence that the president may have breached the Constitution relating to his handling of the Phala Phala farm robbery.
Ramaphosa opened the meeting on Monday morning but left soon after, saying that he could not be present when his fate was being discussed.
“The president asked to be recused and the NEC accepted the request. He has thus left the NEC now. As per the party norm when you are subject of discussion, you are recused from the meeting and that’s what has happened with the president,” ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe told the media in a briefing on Monday.
He had also recused himself from Sunday’ during the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, which resolved that ANC members in Parliament should vote against the panel’s report.
The ANC’s national working committee (NWC) resolved on Sunday that ANC MPs should not vote to adopt the Section 89 panel report, which would open the way for an impeachment process against Ramaphosa.
The ANC NEC meeting is currently underway and it is expected to make a decision on what its next step will be regarding the Section 89 report.
Some ANC members who are siding with Ramaphosa, are saying that the panel’s report had many loopholes that needed to be reviewed.
As they demonstrate outside Nasrec with placards that read “Ramaphosa we stand by you”, his supporters said that they see no reason for him to step down.
“The president didn’t do anything wrong. The president must be treated fairly, the same as other presidents,” one supporter said.
At the same time, Carl Niehaus, who is against the president’s leadership, said that Ramaphosa should respect the step-aside resolution that he had been advocating for.
“Now, he is faced with that resolution. He dug a grave and that grave, he is going to fall into himself,” Niehaus said.
Investors fear uncertainty and that any other president could slow down or reverse economic reforms and increase government spending and take on more debt at levels they deem unsustainable.
Despite the doubts raised over Ramaphosa’s integrity, he is still seen by investors at home and abroad as cleaner than any of his rivals.
Meanwhile South African Council of Churches general secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana has thrown his support behind embattled Ramaphosa amid calls for him to resign.
Mpumlwana said the SACC welcomed the section 89 independent panel report by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, but believes calls for Ramaphosa to leave office are unjustified.
“This panel report is a significant starting point of the National Assembly to entrench its constitutional responsibility of oversight over the executive and holding it to account.
“Our Constitution places no one or office beyond public accountability,” said the bishop.
The SACC said the anger towards Ramaphosa was understandable but unwarranted.
We understand the widespread anger and disappointment expressed by society in the wake of this report. The disappointment and anger over what confronts the nation now seem to emanate in part from the incredulity of the circumstances that are engulfing a president who is perceived in this matter to have reversed the impact of state capture.