South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a potential impeachment threat following an independent panel's report into the 'Farmgate' scandal. The panel found that he may have abused his position and violated anti-corruption laws in connection with a 2020 theft at his farm.
The report, which has been handed to parliament, alleges that Ramaphosa covered up a $4m (£3.3m) theft, including kidnapping and bribing the burglars into silence. Ramaphosa has denied wrongdoing, stating that only $580,000 in cash from buffalo sales was stolen and that he did not orchestrate any cover-up.
Parliament is set to examine the findings next week and decide whether to launch impeachment proceedings. The scandal comes less than a month before a key ANC conference that will determine Ramaphosa's candidacy for a second term in 2024, potentially undermining his anti-corruption platform.
The ANC's top body is meeting on Thursday to discuss the report, and Ramaphosa has postponed a meeting with provincial lawmakers to study the findings. Opposition parties have called for him to step down, though the ANC is only obliged to sack him if criminal charges are filed.
The panel's report raises questions about why such a large sum was kept at the farm and why the theft was not reported to police for two years. It also noted that holding dollars could violate foreign exchange laws. The panel recommended that parliament act, but an impeachment vote remains some way off.
