The leadership of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has united in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa amid the ongoing “Farmgate” controversy, according to reports from the country’s public broadcasting service.
During a Wednesday session, the party’s National Executive Committee backed Ramaphosa’s choice to legally contest findings from an independent panel that concluded he engaged in misconduct, SABC politics reporter Samkele Maseko shared on X.
The president successfully resisted demands for his resignation this week regarding the controversy, which centers on criminals who took bundles of money hidden inside furniture at Ramaphosa’s ranch during 2020.
While the ANC previously prevented impeachment efforts against Ramaphosa concerning Farmgate in 2022, the nation’s highest court renewed the proceedings just last week.
The party’s National Executive Committee, which serves as a governing body that directs party members, convened Wednesday to determine their approach to managing the scandal.
Before the session began, a senior ANC leader expressed strong support for Ramaphosa, informing journalists that demands for the president’s departure were politically motivated and that the constitutional court’s ruling contained no requirement for Ramaphosa’s resignation.
Ramaphosa, who has served as the nation’s leader since 2018, has maintained his innocence regarding the Farmgate matter.
Party officials were scheduled to update the media on the National Executive Committee meeting results at 0800 GMT.
