Former President Jacob Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 5th ANC national conference at the Nasrec Expo Centre on 18 December 2017. Photo: Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius
Former President Jacob Zuma has instituted a private prosecution of African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The annoucement was made by the Jacob Zuma Foundation on Thursday, but what exactly the charges against Ramaphosa were was unclear.
Zuma is also attending the ANC national elective conference as a delegate at Nasrec over the weekend.
The former president received mixed reactions from delegates, with some singing the pro-Ramaphosa song “Ramaphosa re tsamaya Le wena (Ramaphosa we walk with you)” as Zuma went to register.
Ramaphosa has been “criminally charged,” the Jacob Zuma Foundation said.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has been charged in a private prosecution with the criminal offence of being accessory after the fact in the crimes committed by among others Advocate Downer namely, breaching the provisions if the NPA Act.”
“The serious crimes for which Mr Ramaphosa has been charged with in a court of law carry the sentence of 15 years imprisonment,” the foundation said.
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Zuma launched the private prosecution, the foundation confirmed.
“The private prosecution has been duly instituted by H.. President JG Zuma in the Johannesburg High Court where the Accused person will make his first appearance on 19 January 2023.”
How exactly Ramaphosa ties into the case between Downer and Zuma is not stated, nor whether there has been a nolle prosequi certificate issued by the NPA, indicating an unwillingness to prosecute Ramaphosa on the specific charges.
The latter is a prerequisite for bringing a private prosecution.
If the charges hold up, it could throw a spanner in the works of Ramaphosa’s re-election campaign, as he would have to step aside from all party positions and would be unable to contest this weekend’s elections for leadership positions, like Zuma-ally Ace Magashule.
Meanwhile, the ANC top six leadership structure has instituted disciplinary processes against Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
This comes after she voted with the opposition for the adoption of the Section 89 panel report chaired by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo that could have seen Ramaphosa dragged through an impeachment process over the Phala Phala farm robbery.
Dlamini-Zuma and other ANC MPs Mervyn Dirks, former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and former minister and Gupta ally Mosebenzi Zwane, voted for the adoption of the report.
The panel found that Ramaphosa may have a case to answer over the theft of at least $580,000 at his Phala Phala farm in 2020.
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