By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says President Cyril Ramaphosa will step aside, should he be criminally charged over the robbery at his Phala Phala game farm.
“The president has not been charged with any crime. There are investigations. The presumption of innocent until guilty remains. Should the president be charged, he will gladly step aside,” Magwenya said on Sunday.
He was addressing a press briefing in Pretoria, detailing Ramaphosa’s schedule for the week.
“The question is best posed to those who have made the call for the president to step aside as to what informs those calls. As things stand, there are no criminal charges against the president. What we have is a series of investigations that he is fully cooperating with, and he will continue to do so until those investigations are concluded,” he said.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula appointed the Section 89 inquiry panel following a motion by ATM for Ramaphosa’s removal on the grounds of “a serious violation of the Constitution or the law and serious misconduct”.
Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, including allegations of money laudering, after the thieves stole large amounts of foreign currency from the game farm two years ago.
His critics not only want him to step down but want to ensure he won’t contest for a second term at the ANC’s crucial December elective conference.
Asked to comment on the work relations between the president and his foremost public critic in his Cabinet, RET supporter and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Magwenya said their relationship was “cordial”.
“There are no problems in their work relationship. She serves at the prerogative of the president. As for what she said about me, I don’t have a comment on that.
Sisulu lambasted Magwenya earlier this month for his comments on Sisulu and deputy minister Phumolo Masualle’s remarks that the Phala Phala revelations were a sign that Ramaphosa must resign.