PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa has drawn a line in the sand, making it clear that he will not resign.
This follows after the ruling by the Constitutional Court that Parliament’s Phala Phala vote was invalid and unconstitutional.
In a defiant national address on Monday evening from the Union Building, Ramaphosa said the judgment does not compel him to resign.
READ | Ramaphosa to take Phala Phala report on review
He further insisted that the court made no findings against him regarding his alleged conduct.
"The judgment reinforces the principles, rights and processes underpinning our constitutional order. This explicitly includes the right to take the report of the independent panel on review. The Court made no finding on whether there was prima facie evidence of misconduct, nor if the alleged conduct, if established, justifies impeachment and the removal of the President."
Ramaphosa said if he were to make a decision to resign, he would be pre-empting a process defined by the Constitution.
"To do so would be to give credence to a panel report that unfortunately has grave flaws. To do so would be to abdicate the responsibility that I assumed when I became President of the Republic.
Despite mounting political pressure, Ramaphosa struck an affirmative tone.
READ | Ramaphosa should not be treated in isolation - Political expert
He said stepping down would hand victory to those trying to undermine efforts to rebuild state institutions and tackle corruption.
“I fully intend to continue serving the people of South Africa,” he said.
Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence and now moves to challenge the independent panel’s report by taking it on review.
He said this decision is not out of disrespect for Parliament's processes but rather to affirm the need for findings to be correct in law and in fact.