ANC Officials Locked In Meetings Ahead Of Key Meeting On Ramaphosa Report

South Africa's ruling African National Congress officials were locked in meetings Wednesday after an independent panel established by parliament gave a damning verdict on President Cyril Ramaphosa over his involvement in the Phala Phala scandal that may ultimately cost him his job.

• The ruling party's National Executive Committee (NEC) will convene later today after a meeting of the top six leaders last night. The Mail & Guardian reports this morning that there is talk of a plan to replace Ramaphosa with former President Kgalema Motlanthe, who could be named the interim head of state.
• A NEC member sympathetic to Ramaphosa dtold TimesLive that the panel's findings were the "worst nightmare," with the opposition and the President's rivals within the ANC calling for him to "step aside." The NEC may be headed for heated discussions amid disagreements over how to handle the matter.
• The panel's findings complicate the ANC leadership race that is due to be concluded during the national conference on December 16-20. Ramaphosa was a clear frontrunner to take the helm of the party again, based on the number of nominations.
• Before that, parliament will vote on whether to adopt the report next Tuesday. Should they give a green light to launching impeachment proceedings, a lengthy inquiry would ensue, after which a two-thirds majority would be required to unseat Ramaphosa.
• TimesLive reports that the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) cancelled a Q&A session with Ramaphosa scheduled for this morning. "The decision [that Ramaphosa would skip his last question session in parliament this year] came through around 5am." The morning briefing by presidential spokesperson was also called off.