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While many people would thought President Cyril Ramaphosa was finished, and on the verge of being bullied out of office by his political opponents, the man seems to be ready to take the fight to his enemies and save his political career.
After initially considering to abdicate his position in the wake of the section 89 report on Phala-Phala, President Ramaphosa appears to have briefed his lawyers with the intent to subject the report to a judicial review.
Reports by News24 indicate that Ramaphosa has dug his heels in the ground, and is prepared to give his opponents a run for their money by fighting on two fronts; through the courts and politically.
His allies and mostly likely legal counsel would have recommended that the panel report be reviewed, because some in the legal community believe that the panel erred in concluding that the president may have violated certain constitutional provisions, particularly the Prevention and Combating of Criminal Activities Act (PREECA).
And with experts in the law like Advocate Wim Trengove SC and Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC on his legal team, the president should have a chance and perhaps even a chance of surviving.
In the interim, the decision to challenge this ruling is likely to delay any major decisions that could be taken by the ANC NEC which adjourned its special meeting yesterday to allow the top six officials to process the report.
On Tuesday, Parliament is expected to vote on whether the report should be used to start impeachment proceedings against the president.
However, given this development and the ANC’s large majority, it is highly likely that they will reject to proceed with the matter and give the president a space to legally pursue a review.
Could Ramaphosa step aside while he endeavours to challenge the report?
Some people have likened his situation to that of former health minister and presidential hopeful Dr. Zwelini Mkhize, saying upon the release of the SIU’s report on alleged corruption by Digital Vibes, he resigned from cabinet and assigned his lawyers the duty to subject the report to a judicial review.
However, the political climate is not the same, Ramaphosa would not want to step aside with just under two weeks until the ANC holds its elective conference, wherein he would mostly likely win.
What do you make of Ramaphosa’s decision to challenge the section 89 report?
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