South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had announced a major address to the nation, did not appear Thursday amid speculation that he may resign following a report concluding that he may have violated the anti-corruption law by allegedly covering up the theft at his Limpopo farm.
Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya has assured that President Ramaphosa «has not panicked.» «It’s not about the fact that he lacks confidence,» he told a press conference Thursday night.
«That decision cannot be rushed and taken in haste. We apologize for the impression that he was going to address the nation tonight,» the presidential spokesman said, according to the South African daily ‘Sowetan’.
Magwenya has pointed out that Ramaphosa «appreciates the urgency and enormity of this problem», so the president is «still» studying the report. «He is also engaging actors and stakeholders in the ruling party,» he said.
«We are at an unprecedented moment in our democracy, and as a result of the report, whatever decision the president makes, it must be informed by the best interests of the country,» he concluded.
The Section 89 panel led by the Chief Justice has previously concluded that President Ramaphosa may have committed serious constitutional violations by «acting in a manner incompatible with his office.»
In a report, which retired Justice Sandile Ngcobo handed to Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula on Wednesday morning but made public in the evening, the panel found that Ramaphosa had committed four serious violations of the anti-corruption law and that there is ‘prima facie’ evidence against him, The Star newspaper reported.
The case, headed by former State Security Agency director general Arthur Fraser, alleges that Ramaphosa allegedly covered up the theft of millions of dollars hidden on the farm land, although the president denied all the allegations.
