South Africa President Ramaphosa is facing the threat of impeachment over 'Farmgate' scandal

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa could look impeachment aft an autarkic sheet recovered that helium whitethorn person violated anti-corruption instrumentality during the probe of a robbery astatine his farm.

In what has go known arsenic the "Farmgate" scandal, Ramaphosa is alleged to person covered up a $4 cardinal theft from his Phala Phala workplace successful the northbound eastbound of the state successful 2020. Some $580,000 of this was recovered beneath sofa cushions, and allegations besides see moving with Namibian authorities to apprehend, torture and bribe the suspects.

Ramaphosa staunchly denies the allegations and has not been charged with immoderate crimes. He maintains that the currency was the proceeds from the merchantability of buffalo. He has confirmed that the robbery took place, but insists that the magnitude stolen was smaller than alleged and denies participating successful a cover-up.

Ramaphosa delayed a planned parliamentary quality connected Thursday to see the panel's findings, portion his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya besides canceled a scheduled media briefing.

"I person endeavoured, passim my tenure arsenic President, not lone to abide by my oath but to acceptable an illustration of respect for the Constitution, for its institutions, for owed process and the law," Ramaphosa said successful a connection Wednesday.

"I categorically contradict that I person violated this oath successful immoderate way, and I likewise contradict that I americium blameworthy of immoderate of the allegations made against me."

The sheet was appointed successful accordance with Section 89 of the constitution by the talker of parliament to analyse whether the president should look impeachment, aft Arthur Fraser, erstwhile caput of the country's State Security Agency and adjacent state of erstwhile President Jacob Zuma, filed a ailment with constabulary successful June.

On Wednesday, its last report recommended that the president has a lawsuit to answer, concluding that the accusation it has seen establishes prima facie that "there was a deliberate volition not to analyse the committee of the crimes committed astatine Phala Phala openly."

"The President abused his presumption arsenic Head of State to person the substance investigated and seeking the assistance of the Namibian President to apprehend a suspect," the panel's study alleged.

"There was much overseas currency concealed successful the sofa than the magnitude reflected successful the acknowledgement of receipt. This raises the root of the further currency."

Namibian President Hage Geingob released a connection successful June responding to Fraser's ailment filing, successful which helium categorically denied immoderate wrongdoing and labeled the allegations "slanderous" and politically-motivated.

"The President of the Republic of Namibia liaises with different Heads of State connected authoritative matters, wrong established State-to-State diplomatic protocols, successful accordance with the law powers of the President and upon the dictates of planetary practices connected communal practice betwixt Heads of State and Government," the connection from Geingob's bureau said.

"The Presidency truthful categorically denies insinuations that President Geingob whitethorn person acted inappropriately and/or participated oregon abetted successful the apprehension of the individuals concerned."

The study concluded that Ramaphosa whitethorn person committed a "serious violation" of conception 34(1) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), which imposes an work connected "persons successful a presumption of authority" to study corrupt activities specified arsenic theft, fraud, extortion oregon forgery.

"We deliberation that the president has a lawsuit to reply connected the root of the overseas currency that was stolen, arsenic good arsenic the underlying transaction for it," the sheet said.

It besides suggested Ramaphosa whitethorn person committed "serious misconduct" by "exposing himself to a concern involving a struggle betwixt his authoritative responsibilities and his backstage business," and whitethorn person violated the constitution by "acting successful a mode that is inconsistent with his office."

The study volition present beryllium considered by the country's National Assembly to find the astir due mode forward, which could effect successful impeachment.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) volition clasp a enactment league from Dec. 16 to 20 that volition determine whether Ramaphosa, who entered bureau connected an anti-corruption platform, tin tally for a 2nd word successful office.

The governmental turmoil comes arsenic Ramaphosa attempts to drive done long-awaited economical reforms aimed astatine shoring up the country's vigor and nutrient security, infrastructure and occupation creation.