Cyril Ramaphosa’s tenure as South African president is faltering due to a scandal over alleged corruption that questions the promises of change with which he came to power in 2018 and arouses echoes of eight years of Government of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, accused of corrupt practices.
These are the five keys to understanding the political earthquake unleashed in South Africa, the leading power in Sub-Sharan Africa, which dates back to a dark robbery committed on February 9, 2020:
1. What happened that day?
According to the lawsuit filed against Ramaphosa last June by the former head of the South African intelligence agency Artur Fraser, on that date there was a theft of almost 4 million euros hidden in the farm that the president has in Phala Phala (north).
Fraser accused Ramaphosa of concealing that theft from the South African Police and Exchequer in a money laundering operation, as well as allegedly kidnapping the thieves and attempting to bribe them into silence, prompting a police investigation.
The event occurred while the head of state was attending an African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
2. How has the case reached the brink of the president’s resignation?
That same June, the minority African Transformation Movement (ATM) opposition party filed a motion in Parliament against Ramaphosa, prompting the appointment of an independent three-member panel led by former Constitutional Court president Sandile Ngcobo. .
The party accused Ramaphosa, among other charges, of breaching the Constitution, which prohibits members of the Government from carrying out other paid professional work, after the president admitted that he is dedicated to the sale of prey animals, by ensuring that the amount stolen came from that business (where cash payments are common).
The ATM, with only two parliamentary seats, alluded to article 89 of the Constitution, which gives its name to the panel and allows the removal of a sitting president for reasons of a serious violation of the Magna Carta, misconduct or inability to hold office.
3. What is Ramaphosa accused of?
The panel’s report, which had very limited investigative powers, was presented on Wednesday and its conclusions triggered the current crisis.
“Prima facie” (“at first sight”), the panel explained, the president may have committed a “serious violation” of several anti-corruption laws, in addition to having engaged in “serious misconduct” by exposing himself to a “conflict between his responsibilities officials and their private affairs”.
4. What does the president allege?
“I categorically deny that I have violated this oath in any way, and likewise deny that I am guilty of any of the charges against me,” Ramaphosa responded in a statement.
In his explanations to the panel, the president placed the stolen sum at $580,000 (about 550,000 euros) and argued that he does not receive a salary for this farm, a business that, according to him, suffers losses.
After the report was made public, the presidency announced on Thursday that Ramaphosa would address the nation “imminently” to make an announcement, sparking speculation that he might resign.
However, at the last minute, the president canceled his address.
5. What does the CNA say? And the opposition?
According to local media reports, the circle closest to the president in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) convinced him not to make a hasty decision. Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, will meet this Monday to discuss the future of its leader.
At the same time, the deep division within the ANC was made clear when two ministers on Thursday called for the president’s resignation.
For its part, the first opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), announced that it will present a motion in Parliament for the dissolution of the Government, which would lead to early elections.
6. And now what?
If Ramaphosa himself does not resign before then, the National Assembly (lower house of Parliament) will analyze the report next Tuesday to decide whether to continue with a process that could end with a parliamentary vote on the possible removal of the president.
This seems an unlikely scenario, unless a rebellion breaks out within the ANC, as impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the House and the ruling party currently stands at 57.5%.