South African president rules out resignation amid report scandal

Despite the scandal over cash money found in his home, the president of the South AfricaCyril Ramaphosa, has no intention “to resign, or to step aside” – said his spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, this Saturday, 3. Ramaphosa decided “not to resign because of a wrong report, nor will he step aside” from the political front line, reinforced his spokesperson. The figure of the South African president has been in jeopardy since the publication, last Wednesday, 30, of a parliamentary report. The document revealed that, during a burglary at one of his properties, wads of bills were found hidden in a sofa, totaling $508,000. “Due to the long-term interest and durability of our constitutional democracy, beyond the Ramaphosa Presidency, such an inaccurate report should be questioned, especially if it is used to remove an incumbent head of state”, he added. The scandal began in June, when a former director of intelligence services, close to Ramaphosa’s critics in his own party, filed a lawsuit against the president for having concealed the robbery. Ramaphosa has always denied what happened and, so far, the complaint has not led to an accusation. The president could be the target of an impeachment process. Parliament meets next Tuesday, the 6th, to vote on whether or not to activate this process. Several influential members of the African National Congress (ANC, the governing party) have already taken a stand in favor of the president.

*With information from AFP