In response to a report that claimed President Cyril Ramaphosa kept unreported foreign currency at his farm in 2020, the South African parliament ruled against initiating impeachment proceedings against him.
The parliamentarians rejected the motion to impeach Ramaphosa 214 to 148.
Ramaphosa was strongly supported by the majority-holding African National Congress party, which prevented the resolution from obtaining the two-thirds majority required to move through with impeachment.
However, four ANC lawmakers demonstrated their disapproval of Ramaphosa by voting in favour of impeachment, while a few more chose to abstain from the vote.
The pivotal vote was held in response to a devastating parliamentary investigation that suggested Ramaphosa had unlawfully concealed at least $580,000 in cash at his Phala Phala game ranch in a sofa.
The parliamentarians rejected the motion to impeach Ramaphosa 214 to 148.
Ramaphosa was strongly supported by the majority-holding African National Congress party, which prevented the resolution from obtaining the two-thirds majority required to move through with impeachment.
However, four ANC lawmakers demonstrated their disapproval of Ramaphosa by voting in favour of impeachment, while a few more chose to abstain from the vote.
The pivotal vote was held in response to a devastating parliamentary investigation that suggested Ramaphosa had unlawfully concealed at least $580,000 in cash at his Phala Phala game ranch in a sofa.
It said he did not report the theft of the money to the police in order to avoid questions over how he got the foreign currency and why he had not declared it to authorities.
The report has brought Ramaphosa’s opponents — opposition parties and even rivals within his ANC party — to call for him to step down.
At least four ANC lawmakers broke ranks with the party line and voted along with the opposition parties in favour of the impeachment process, including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, currently a minister in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet and high-ranking ANC leader.
Dlamini-Zuma lost against Ramaphosa for the ANC presidency at its last national conference in 2017.
Other notable figures who voted in favour of Ramaphosa’s impeachment were Supra Mahumapelo and Mosebenzi Zwane, known rivals of Ramaphosa and allies of former president Jacob Zuma, indicating the extent of divisions within the ANC.
During the Tuesday seating.
ANC lawmakers argued that the panel that drafted the report did not present enough evidence to warrant the impeachment of Ramaphosa.
They said that other law enforcement agencies are still probing the matter.
The report has brought Ramaphosa’s opponents — opposition parties and even rivals within his ANC party — to call for him to step down.
At least four ANC lawmakers broke ranks with the party line and voted along with the opposition parties in favour of the impeachment process, including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, currently a minister in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet and high-ranking ANC leader.
Dlamini-Zuma lost against Ramaphosa for the ANC presidency at its last national conference in 2017.
Other notable figures who voted in favour of Ramaphosa’s impeachment were Supra Mahumapelo and Mosebenzi Zwane, known rivals of Ramaphosa and allies of former president Jacob Zuma, indicating the extent of divisions within the ANC.
During the Tuesday seating.
ANC lawmakers argued that the panel that drafted the report did not present enough evidence to warrant the impeachment of Ramaphosa.
They said that other law enforcement agencies are still probing the matter.
They also noted Ramaphosa’s request for a judicial review of the report, arguing that parliament should hold off on taking any action against the president until the outcome of that process.
The legislative vote occurs during the same week that Ramaphosa will be vying for re-election as the ANC’s leader at the organization’s national conference, which begins on Friday in Johannesburg. Ramaphosa will be battling for his political life during this time.
The National Executive Committee of the party, which is its highest governing body, will also be chosen at the conference.
In order to run for re-election to a second term as South Africa’s president in 2024, Ramaphosa must be re-elected as the ANC leader.