Opposition political parties met on Wednesday 17 July 2022, to give a clear way forward towards the removal of Cyril Ramaphosa as President of South Africa. This follows a series of allegations against the African National Congress (ANC) leader with the latest being kidnapping and money laundering in an incident that has gained notoriety as ‘farmgate’.
The South African opposition groups excluding the Democratic Alliance have again announced their renewed intention to submit a resolution of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa in parliament.
However passing a vote of no confidence against the sitting president of South Africa is likely to fail without the DA and the ANC, analysts say.
According to the local press, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said President Ramaphosa infringed “many laws, the Constitution and his oath of office”. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), EFF, and others are also demanding answers from the South African Reserve Bank about its investigation into the money laundering allegations.
Earlier in June, the former government intelligence chief Arthur Fraser made allegations claiming that the head of state had covered up a burglary where he lost US$4 million (£3.3 million) from his Phala Phala wildlife estate in Limpopo back in 2020. Mr. Fraser also alleged that the robbers were followed and held against their will.
Opposition leaders have told journalists President Ramaphosa should answer to parliament. They also favor using a secret ballot, which would make it simpler for members of the ANC, the party in power with a parliament majority, to reject their leader. However, the Democratic Alliance, the largest opposition group, has rejected to participate in the vote plan, claiming that doing so would jeopardize the current process being used to determine whether or not to impeach Mr. Ramphosa.
Though he vigorously denies any wrongdoing, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s career is currently in jeopardy due to the alleged scandal which has gained notoriety as “farm-gate”. He was elected in 2018 on a platform of honesty and fighting corruption against the backdrop of former President Zuma’s corruption scandals.
Mr. Fraser, known as a close associate of former president Jacob Zuma, reported the heist and its alleged aftermath after 2 years after it occurred prompting it to come under public light for the first time.
