South African president goes to constitutional court over allegations of explosions at military airfields in Russia++ Putin on Crimea Bridge

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wants the national constitutional court to clear up the serious corruption allegations against him. It concerns the report of a parliamentary commission of inquiry, according to which the head of state, who has been in office since 2018, has violated an anti-corruption law and the constitution. Ramaphosa spokesman Vincent Magwenya described the report as “clearly flawed” on Monday. Independent legal experts also criticized that the report was largely based on unverified information and rumors.

The publication of the report last week plunged the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party into deep crisis. Ramaphosa, 70, is under a lot of pressure. There is speculation about his resignation. The report will be discussed in parliament on Tuesday. Opposition parties want to vote on impeachment procedure.

The background to the allegations is a robbery that allegedly stole half a million dollars from Ramaphosa’s private cattle ranch in 2020. The president – also a successful businessman and multimillionaire – had reported the robbery, but not the disappearance of the money. His predecessor Jacob Zuma, who ruled from 2009 to 2018, was forced to resign over a corruption scandal. The ANC, which emerged from the former freedom movement, has ruled South Africa since the end of the racist apartheid regime in 1994. (saw/sda/dpa)