Celani Sikhakhane
Seven opposition parties will apply for a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa over Farmgate, the ongoing scandal surrounding a burglary on his farm last year.
At a media briefing, the parties called Ramaphosa and the South African Reserve Bank to appear before Parliament to account for the Phala Phala farm robbery cover-up.
The briefing included the ATM, DA, Cope, EFF, IFP, ACDP and NFP.
The DA, which had been part of earlier talks, withdrew on Tuesday evening, saying they didn’t believe the motion of no confidence was the best route.
Leaders of the political parties held a briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday.
EFF leader Julius Malema said that they will use any available plan to bring Ramaphosa to account.
“We will additionally use a broad united front to discuss and develop a common approach on so many socio-economic challenges confronting society, including the rising cost of living, corruption, unemployment, electricity crisis and rising levels of crime,” he said.
“The Public Protector should as a matter of urgency and as required by law release the report on the alleged breaches in Phala Phala.”
The Phala Phala scandal has muddied Ramaphosa’s campaign for a second term as ANC president ahead of the 55th ANC National Elective Conference later this year.
In June, former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against the president over an alleged burglary which took place on his farm in 2021. Fraser claimed that burglars attempted to steal an estimated $4 million (R60 million) from the property.
He accused Ramaphosa and his security of illegally detaining the burglars and bribing them with cash to keep quiet about the incident, raising questions about the legitimacy of the money they tried to steal.
The president also failed to report the attempted burglary to the police, and now faces questions over whether he violated the executive oath of ethics.
