The last 24 hours have been stressful with a lot happening after a Section 89 panel found Ramaphosa contravened the Constitution and anti-corruption laws with his dealings at his Phala Phala Farm.
Due to this president, Ramaposa is expected to resign in a few hours, and his deputy, David Mabuza, is likely to be the next acting president. Ramaphosa will address the nation tonight at 8pm.
Also read: Phala Phala Scandal: Calls mount for Ramaphosa to resign
The presidential address comes after Ramaphosa also lost the support of his ANC comrades.
According to News24, a senior politician close to the president said, “Ramaphosa did not have to be convinced of the case to resign.”
“The insider said Ramaphosa argued that it was in the best interest of the stability of the country for him to quit. ‘There is nothing we can do now,'” the source told News24.
If Ramaphosa resigns, according to the Constitution, Mabuza will take over immediately as South Africa’s acting president until Parliament votes for a new leader.
Ramphosa’s legal team has advised him that he has a slim chance of winning should he wish to challenge the Ngcobo report again on appeal.
Facts about David Mabuza:
- Born David Dabede Mabuza in Transvaal, Mpumalanga.
- He is a qualified teacher.
- Mabuza was part of the teacher’s unions and Black Consciousness movements in the 1980s.
- He served as Mpumalanga’s ANC representative on various levels since the ’90s.
- Mabuza was Mpumalanga’s premier from 2008 to 2017.
- He has been serving as Deputy President of the ANC, serving under Cyril Ramaphosa.
The controversy around Mabuza:
2009
- Mabuza was accused of being instrumental in political killings in Mpumalanga, but there was no proof of this.
- His name also came up for the poisoning of a whistle-blower in a case of tender corruption related to building the Mbombela Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- Mabuza was also allegedly accused of ordering a hit on Jimmy Mohlala, who vocalised corruption related to the Mbombela Stadium construction.
2010
- Mabuza was accused of “buying” his premiership by “gifting” R400,000 towards President Jacob Zuma’s 2008 wedding to Nompumelelo Ntuli. The Presidency did not deny the claim about the gift.
- It is alleged Mabuza opened a case with the police, alleging R14 million in cash was stolen from his house. The provincial organised crime unit later reported only R1,200 was stolen and Mabuza later reported only R4 million missing. The investigation into the case went nowhere.
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Picture: Cape{town}Etc Library