‘I will not resign’, Ramaphosa says

President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will not resign despite a Constitutional Court ruling on the Phala Phala matter and the initiation of parliamentary steps towards an impeachment inquiry, maintaining that nothing in the judgment requires him to step down. Addressing the nation on Monday, Ramaphosa said: “I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign.” He said the ruling by the Constitutional Court had generated “much commentary, debate and speculation” and had contributed to “concern and uncertainty in the country over the last few days. “When I assumed the office of President of the Republic of South Africa, I said that it was a responsibility that I would discharge with the greatest of care,” he said. “I said that it was a responsibility that I would undertake mindful of the needs, aspirations and expectations of the people of this land.” “I pledged that I would serve you, the people of South Africa. I said that I would work with you, side by side, to build the South Africa that we all want and deserve.” This comes as political parties including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African Transformation Movement (ATM) and others have called for Ramaphosa’s resignation following Friday’s judgment. After a 14-month delay, the apex court ruled in favour of the EFF and the African Transformation Movement when it found that parliament acted unlawfully when it voted in December 2022 to reject the Section 89 independent panel report on Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala scandal. The independent panel, chaired by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious constitutional violations linked to the Phala Phala scandal. Its findings included concerns over the possession of large amounts of undisclosed foreign currency of questionable origin; Ramaphosa’s alleged involvement in private business activities, potentially in breach of Section 96(2)(a) of the Constitution; his failure to report the theft to