Zuma writes scathing letter demanding that Ramaphosa resign
Acting as a 'concerned citizen,' MK leader Jacob Zuma has given President Cyril Ramaphosa until Friday to answer his questions or prepare for a legal showdown.
Former President Jacob Zuma addresses members of the media under the banner of new party uMkhontho weSizwe on 16 December 2023. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/ Eyewitness News
702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane is joined by legal analyst Benedict Phiri.
Listen below:
In a legal letter fired off to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday morning, his predecessor, MK Party leader Jacob Zuma, has demanded he resign or face a legal showdown.
Claiming he was acting in various capacities, including concerned citizen, voter, taxpayer, and former president, Zuma detailed a series of questions he wants answers to by Friday's deadline.
The questions include the exact date and time Ramaphosa decided to place Minister Mchunu on leave following corruption allegations, and when he decided to appoint Cachalia in his place.
The correspondence comes after Zuma and his party lost a bid for direct access to the Constitutional Court last week.
They sought to challenge the constitutionality of executive decisions taken by Ramaphosa following allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Phiri says the matter does raise a question for the President around what should happen to a minister where there is potentially a conflict of interest.
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"Because the Constitution does oblige ministers to avoid a potential conflict of interest, and I think this is where this correspondence Mr Zuma is fashioning... is aimed at."
- Benedict Phiri, legal analyst
"They're really trying to get the President to really account for what he knew and what he didn't know."
- Benedict Phiri, legal analyst
Zuma’s lawyers also want to know whether Ramaphosa still believes a commission of inquiry is necessary before he can decide whether to dismiss Mchunu from Cabinet.
"... the President may have breached his oath of office for not having properly dealt with a situation where someone in his cabinet potentially has a conflict of interest which has come about in a very public way."
- Benedict Phiri, legal analyst
South Africans remain in the dark as to how the President satisfied himself that Mchunu ought to remain in cabinet, says Phiri.
And the likelihood of Ramaphosa stepping down come Friday?
Highly unlikely, says Phiri.
"The only instance in the Constitution under which a President has to resign is when there's a vote of no confidence against him."
- Benedict Phiri, legal analyst
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