Parliament delays vote on Cyril Ramaphosa scandal report

A parliamentary sitting set to debate a damning report that found that South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa may have violated the constitution has been postponed by a week.

The report said Ramaphosa allegedly covered up a theft at his farm. He has denied any wrongdoing and his spokesman said the report was “flawed”.

Parliament’s programming committee met on Monday night and unanimously agreed to hold the debate on December 13 to allow members of parliament to travel to Cape Town where parliament sits.

Debate on the report could decide whether to impeach Ramaphosa, although the ruling party has announced it would vote against such an attempt.

The president had on Monday moved to court to seek an order declaring any steps taken by parliament following the release of the report as invalid and unlawful.

If granted, the order would apply to the vote by members of parliament on whether to launch impeachment proceedings.—BBC