Ramaphosa is bidding for a second term as head of the ruling ANC
AFP

President Cyril Ramaphosa played down the threat of impeachment over allegations of covering up multi-million-dollar cash theft at a luxury farmhouse owned by him.

While speaking at a press conference in the United Kingdom at the end of his 2-day official visit, Ramaphosa denied any risk to his office.

Ramaphosa is currently facing questions from the opposition and his own party members for allegedly covering up the theft at a luxury farmhouse owned by him at Phala Phala.

At the conference, Ramaphosa discussed his government's response to the power crisis in his country and expressed hope for strengthened South Africa-UK relations under King Charles III.

The scandal erupted on June 1 this year when South Africa's former national spy boss Arthur Fraser filed a complaint against the president, alleging that robbers broke into his farmhouse at Phala Phala and stole $ 4 million (R 68 million) in cash stashed in furniture. Fraser also hurled accusations of money laundering at Ramaphosa, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

It was widely alleged that Ramaphosa had the robbery covered up by the authorities and instead bribed them into silence. Ramaphosa subsequently issued a statement confirming the heist but denied any wrongdoing.

The scandal poses a threat to Ramaphosa's re-election bid for a second term as president of the African National Congress (ANC) as the ruling party goes to internal polls in December.

The ongoing scandal has put Ramaphosa under the scanner and he has to answer to several investigating agencies including the Hawks, the Public Protector, and the South African Reserve Bank. In addition to these, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has appointed an independent panel which includes former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, to conduct a preliminary assessment on whether Ramaphosa should face impeachment over his actions and alleged misconduct.

All these have put the president in a spot and the pressure seems to be piling on with each passing day. However, he is seemingly in no mood to relent.

In the month of August, Ramaphosa refused to answer questions related to the theft, reiterating that he wants "law enforcement agencies investigating the case to be given the space to do their work".

On Sept. 9, several opposition parties led a march to the office of acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, demanding that a report be released on the findings related to the cash theft.