Ramaphosa challenges 'Farmgate' findings in court

STORY: Outside a meeting venue in Johannesburg a crowd sang its support for Cyril Ramaphosa.

But inside the fate of the South African president was hanging in the balance.

The executive committee of his ruling African National Congress met on Monday (December 5) to discuss allegations he may have committed misconduct and violated his oath of office.

That follows a report by a panel of experts into allegations that large sums of foreign currency were hidden at Ramaphosa's game farm, and that he failed to report the money missing when it was stolen in 2020.

On Monday, Ramaphosa filed court papers challenging the report, while at the executive committee meeting ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile announced the governing party's decision.

He said the ANC would vote in parliament against adoption of the panel report.

"It is the view of the ANC, of the NEC, that the decision that we take is in the best interests of the country - let the president continue with his responsibilities until such time that all these processes requires that he can't continue."

The scandal, dubbed "Farmgate" by the media, only came to light in June.

It has raised questions over how Ramaphosa - who came to power promising to fight corruption - acquired the cash and whether he declared it.

Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.

On Monday his lawyers filed papers at South Africa's constitutional court seeking for the panel report to be "reviewed, declared unlawful and set aside."

Ramaphosa also wants any steps taken by the lower house of parliament - the National Assembly - over the report to be declared unlawful and invalid, the papers showed.

The National Assembly is set to debate the report on Tuesday (December 6).