Despite growing call for him to resign, President Cyril Ramaphosa is not panicking and decided not to address the nation as planned.
Ramaphosa decided to cancel a televised announcement on his political future as planned on Thursday evening, ending speculation-temporarily at least- that he was about to stepdown as head of state.
This is according to his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, who addressed the media on Thursday evening.
Magwenya apologised for the change in plans but said the president was “consulting a variety of role-players” about the Section 89 panel report about his conduct over the 2020 theft at his Phala Phala game farm.
Magwenya said the consultations were a process that “cannot be conducted in haste” and had to be in the interest of the country.
“Due to heightened expectations, the president appreciates the urgency of the issue. The president also appreciates the enormity of the issue and what it means for the country and the stability of the country.
“He is still processing the report and engaging a number of role-players of the governing party and the alliance. He is engaging a broad range of stakeholders,” Magwenya said.
Asked whether Ramaphosa was going to resign or fight politically, Magwenya said: “I will desist from engaging on any of those options because I may risk sounding like this is the option he is gravitating towards.
“Except to say, all options are on the table, but what is important is not so much the merit or demerits of a particular option. What is important is choosing a path or a particular route that is in the interest of the country with respect to the stability of government and the country.”
Source: Mail & Guardian, Bloomberg, Times Live, IOL, News24, image from Twitter: @Manikipi