PRETORIA — An internal campaign within the African National Congress (ANC) to get the party to ouster of President Cyril Ramaphosa over an array of criminal charges has continued to gather momentum.
Some members, including suspended Secretary General Ace Magashule‘s ally Carl Niehaus, have also filed criminal charges against Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa – who is also the head of state – has yet to provide proper information on the 2020 theft from his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
He also refused to reveal how much money was stolen and what currency the money was in.
The President’s inability to confide in the country about the Phala Phala farm robbery has captured the nation’s imagination with some already using the incident to try to oust him from power.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula rejected demands by the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Ramaphosa.
The UDM called for a parliamentary inquiry into Ramaphosa’s alleged conduct, including placing him on sabbath leave.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa wrote to Mapisa-Nqakula demanding an investigation by a retired judge into Ramaphosa.
Spokesperson Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula rejected UDM’s submission on the grounds that it did not constitute a substantive motion and was not accompanied by one.