SL’s friend SA president Cyril Ramaphosa may face impeachment over corruption allegations

December 01, 2022

South African President and Anti-Corruption crusader Cyril Ramaphosa faces a possible impeachment threat over the "Farmgate" scandal.

The president has been accused of covering up a USD 4 million theft from his farm in 2020, including kidnapping and bribing the burglars into silence.

A three-volume report from an independent panel has found that Ramaphosa abused his position and may have broken an anti-corruption law.

He has denied wrongdoing and said the money was from selling buffalo.

The panel's findings have been handed to parliament, which is set to examine them and decide whether or not to launch impeachment proceedings next week.

Ramaphosa is less than a month away from a conference which will decide if he can run for a second term with his party, the African National Congress (ANC), in 2024. The incident could be particularly damaging as Ramaphosa ran for office on an anti-corruption ticket.

Ramaphosa was in Sri Lanka last month for a short visit after attending the G20 Summit.

He met with his President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Katunayake Air Force base for discussions on bilateral issues.

The discussions were focused on further strengthening the bilateral relationship aiming at economic cooperation and investment, expanding tourism in Sri Lanka, and receiving South African assistance, guidance and counselling in setting up a credible truth-seeking mechanism to achieve a lasting reconciliation amongst communities.

A special birthday celebration was also held for South African President Ramaphosa who celebrated his 70th birthday in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayake and senior officials from both countries were present the PMD said at the time.