MK Party calls for Ramaphosa resignation after Phala Phala ruling, ramps up pressure on Parliament
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela has called for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation following the Phala Phala ruling, urging Parliament to act on accountability.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL
Following Friday’s Constitutional Court judgment on the long-running Phala Phala scandal matter, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela has called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign, saying the ruling should mark the end of what he described as a prolonged political and constitutional controversy.
Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Ndhlela said the President should “do the honourable thing” and step down in light of allegations and findings that have surrounded the matter.
He also referred to the parliamentary process linked to a Section 89 panel report, arguing that Parliament must now proceed with holding the President accountable following the court’s decision.
Ndhlela further alleged that there were unresolved questions around the Phala Phala incident, including the handling of foreign currency and the reporting of the theft, and said these issues warranted further scrutiny.
“We can’t afford, as a country, to have a president implicated in such matters,” he said, adding that the process should ultimately result in accountability through Parliament.
He also criticised political parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU), including the Democratic Alliance, suggesting that their positions on accountability had shifted since entering government.
According to Ndhlela, Parliament now faces renewed pressure to act on the Section 89 process, and opposition parties would continue to push for accountability ahead of upcoming elections.
He further warned that the MK Party would continue to pursue legal and political avenues, including an Electoral Court matter challenging aspects of the 2024 general election process.
On comparisons to former president Jacob Zuma, Ndhlela rejected equivalence between the two cases, saying Zuma had complied with court rulings in his case, while arguing that Ramaphosa should also face consequences if required by legal processes.
The MK Party maintains that the matter remains a test of accountability for South Africa’s democratic institutions, and has called for continued political pressure on Parliament and other state bodies.
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