South Africa: Panel to Probe Ramaphosa Over 'Farmgate'

Facts

• South Africa's parliament on Wed. appointed an independent panel to determine whether Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa should face impeachment over an alleged cover-up of a theft at his extravagant farmhouse.
• The probe comes after former national spy boss, Arthur Fraser, accused Ramaphosa - after robbers allegedly stole $4M stashed in furniture - of kidnapping, questioning, and bribing the accused thieves to stay silent instead of alerting police.
• The three-person panel will consist of former Constitutional Court chief justice, Sandile Ngcobo, former Gauteng Division High Court judge Thokozile Masipa and University of Capetown associate professor Richard Calland.
• Ramaphosa acknowledges the robbery took place but says he reported the break-in to the police. He also disputes the amount of money stolen and denies allegations that the funds came from illegal sales of game from his animal-breeding farm.
• If the panel recommends to parliament that Ramaphosa does have a case against him, the next step would be a vote in the National Assembly. If passed, the president could then face an impeachment vote which requires a two-thirds majority to remove him from office.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Citizen, and Guardian.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Cape Talk. This is not an independent evaluation of the severity of the accusations against Ramaphosa. Professor Calland has a long, public record of overtly supporting Ramaphosa, and her presence on a three-person panel brings an immediate bias and conflict of interest. This panel should be genuinely autonomous.
• Narrative B, as provided by IOL. The important work of this panel should go on. Professor Calland is a distinguished professional who's devoted his career to improving and strengthening South Africa's democracy. Regardless of the professor's previous statements, such accusations by the president's opposition undermine an important and transparent process.