![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ramaphosa-and-phala-phala-1.jpg?resize=300%2C181&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nRabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za<\/p>\n
12 May 2026<\/p>\n
3-minute read<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In a speech given on Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared he will not resign following the Constitutional Court ruling on May 8, 2026, which reignited the Phala-Phala scandal. The President stated that he has the right to take the Phala-Phala report of the panel chaired by Judge Ndlovu under review, where parliament has the right to hold impeachment hearings against him.<\/p>\n
In an interview on Sabahul Muslim with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat, COSATU\u2019s Matthew Parks says that \u201cthis is a very sensitive matter,\u201d although the President can exercise his legal rights as a citizen.<\/p>\n
COSATU sees no reason as to why the President should resign over \u201ca matter that is not new,\u201d but should rather allow parliament to do its job properly without cutting corners. This would require President Ramaphosa \u201cto revive that legal proceeding,\u201d to argue the matter in a court of law.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to respect each other\u2019s rights,\u201d he points out. Since \u201cnobody has been able to dispute his response of where he got the money from,\u201d and because the President has not been given the chance to prove himself in court, COSATU opines that mere suggestions from opposition parties that the President resign, do not hold.<\/p>\n
With the global problems that are having an effect on South Africa, Parks says that if smaller opposition parties insist on the president resigning, he guarantees that \u201cin one year, we\u2019ll have 12 presidents\u201d resigning. We have had the problem of presidents not completing their term of office, says Parks, and different municipalities see varying mayors \u201ccome and go every few months.\u201d The consequences, he says, instead of better service delivery, is of chaos in that town or city.<\/p>\n
Another problem in the judiciary is the duration of legal proceedings, with basic legal proceeding taking at least two years to be concluded in court. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to have a president become a sacrificial lamb because we\u2019re impatient about the political theatrics of the day,\u201d Parks reiterates. Parliament is a \u201cpolitical theatre,\u201d and not a judicial court of law. By President Ramaphosa arguing his case in front of senior counsel who can verify the evidence, and expert judges who are not pandering to \u201cpoliticians looking for points ahead of local elections,\u201d the outcome will be better for everyone.<\/p>\n
If the matter goes to a proper court, it would be good for everyone, because this is a constitutional democracy. Parks concludes that there are very few countries in the world that boasts the kind of \u201ctransparency and accountability and robustness\u201d that is found in South Africa.<\/p>\n