South Africa’s Ramaphosa will not resign, spokesperson says

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign and will seek a second term as leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) after allies rallied behind him to stay on, a spokesperson from the president’s office said on Saturday.

Ramaphosa’s position as the head of state came into question after an independent parliamentary panel said in a report he might have violated oath of office in regards to millions of dollars in cash that was found at his private game farm.

“President Ramaphosa is not resigning based on a flawed report, neither is he stepping aside,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told journalists by text message.

“The President has taken to heart the unequivocal message coming from the branches of the governing party who have nominated him to avail himself for a 2nd term of the leadership of the ANC.”

Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.

The members of the ANC will gather at a special National Working Committee meeting on Sunday which will be followed by a National Executive Committee meeting on Monday where they will decide the future course of action for Ramaphosa, the ANC said.

The president would challenge the report and its findings, the spokesperson said.

“It is in the long term interest and sustainability of our constitutional democracy… that such a clearly flawed report is challenged.”

(Reporting by Promit Mukherjee, Editing by William Maclean and Ros Russell)