The ANC treasurer-general, Paul Mashatile, has admitted that some members of the National Working Committee had called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign following the damning findings of the Section 89 independent panel.
Last week, speculation was rife after News24 reported that Ramaphosa was likely to resign, just a day after the special Section 89 independent panel of experts found that he had a case to answer in the Phala Phala scandal.
Later, it was revealed that his supporters had backed him to continue as ANC and country president.
However, Mashatile denied reports that Ramaphosa had intended to resign, as reports in the media had indicated last week following the Section 89 report findings, which said Ramaphosa had a prima facie case to answer on the Phala Phala farm matter.
Mashatile was speaking during an interview on JJ Tabane’s show on eNCA on Wednesday, saying these reports were untrue even though certain comrades within the ANC NEC had made a call for him to step down following the report from the Section 89 panel.
“The president did not say to the NWC that he wanted to resign, nor did the NWC say he must resign. But let me be fair to comrades, there were comrades that called for him to resign, but at the end, the meeting said no, that is premature, and let us allow this process to unfold,” he said.
Mashatile’s revelations come after he announced on Monday that the special NEC meeting held in Nasrec over the weekend and on Monday had resolved that the party’s MPs must vote against the Section 89 independent panel report on Phala Phala.
However, not all the members of the ANC are willing to toe the party line in a bid to protect Ramaphosa. Some of those who are contesting Ramaphosa for ANC president at the 55th ANC National Conference set for Nasrec in just over a week from now are said to be working behind the scenes to ensure that Ramaphosa is impeached when the Section 89 report is debated in Parliament next Tuesday.
Lindiwe Sisulu, who has publicly challenged Ramaphosa in the past, is thought to be part of the plan.
Dr Zweli Mkhize and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma are believed to be on board with the plan.
MPs, including those from opposition parties, are expected to vote on whether to reject or accept the findings made by the independent panel led by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, Judge Thoko Masipa and advocate Mahlape Sello, who have come under fire from those supporting Ramaphosa’s second term (bid) as ANC president.
Parliament’s debate and vote on the Section 89 panel report, which found the president had a case to answer on the Phala Phala farm burglary scandal, is scheduled to take place next week, with all 400 MPs of the National Assembly expected to be at the sitting.
It remains to be seen if those calling for Ramaphosa’s head will garner enough numbers against members of the ANC set to toe the party line to reject the report, with more than 400 MPs expected to vote via an open ballot.