In a dramatic political twist just days before Mandela Day, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has issued President Cyril Ramaphosa with a formal letter of demand calling for his immediate resignation. The party on Wednesday, 17 July, said Ramaphosa must step down by 09:00 on Friday, 18 July, “in honour of Nelson Mandela, the founding Commander-in-Chief of uMkhonto weSizwe.”
The letter, seen by African Times, accuses the President of multiple violations of the Constitution and undermining democratic principles. It follows Ramaphosa’s controversial announcement on 13 July, in which he placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave, appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police from 1 August, and declared the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into alleged criminal infiltration within the state’s security structures.
The MK Party says if the President fails to resign or reverse his announcement, it will take “lawful and peaceful action,” including a motion of no confidence in Parliament, urgent constitutional litigation, and rolling mass action nationwide.
“The time for accountability and ethical leadership is now,” the letter reads. “The will of the people, expressed through democratic elections, has been blatantly disregarded through opportunistic alliances that restored the very ANC government South Africans rejected at the polls.”
Mandela Day Pressure
The ultimatum is strategically timed to coincide with Nelson Mandela International Day, a day that honours South Africa’s global icon and symbol of ethical governance and reconciliation. The MKP says Ramaphosa has failed to embody Mandela’s values and has instead “enabled continued theft of land, resources, and dignity.”
The party’s legal team argues that Ramaphosa’s appointment of Cachalia — a respected legal academic but not a Member of Parliament or Cabinet — is unconstitutional. According to sections 91(3) and 98 of the Constitution, acting ministers must be chosen from among existing Cabinet members.
They further criticise Ramaphosa for placing Mchunu on leave instead of firing him, despite allegations that he lied to Parliament and interfered with SAPS task teams investigating politically motivated killings. The MKP points to recent firings of junior officials over lesser offences as evidence of inconsistency and bias in Ramaphosa’s leadership.
“The decision to keep paying Mchunu’s salary while he is on leave is irrational and a waste of public funds,” the letter argues.
Phala Phala and the Question of Ethics
The MKP’s challenge comes amid persistent questions about Ramaphosa’s own credibility, especially regarding the Phala Phala scandal — the 2020 theft of undeclared foreign currency from his Limpopo farm. While the Public Protector cleared him of wrongdoing in 2023, opposition parties, including the EFF and MKP, maintain that the issue remains unresolved.
The scandal, which involved the alleged concealment of over $500,000 in foreign cash hidden in furniture, dented the President’s image as a champion of clean governance. The MKP claims the Phala Phala saga is emblematic of broader moral decay in the Presidency.
“Your conduct in violating the Constitution and oath of office renders you unfit and incompetent to hold the Office of President,” the MKP letter concludes.
Fallout Over the GNU
The call for Ramaphosa to resign also comes as discontent simmers around the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) — a coalition comprising the ANC, DA, IFP, FF Plus, and other smaller parties. The MKP, along with the EFF and ATM, has rejected the GNU as an illegitimate alliance that overrides the will of the electorate.
“The GNU is the most dangerous political fraud in post-apartheid South Africa,” the MKP said in a separate statement. “It enables the continued control of the state by criminally compromised individuals through a constitutional loophole.”
General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s recent explosive claims — alleging collusion between senior state officials, SAPS leadership, and criminal syndicates — have only deepened public suspicion about the GNU. His revelations prompted the President’s decision to launch the judicial inquiry, but critics argue that the move is a “toothless and expensive exercise” designed to delay accountability.
“Commissions of Inquiry do not produce binding outcomes and cannot investigate allegations involving members of the judiciary without violating the principle of judicial impartiality,” the MKP argues.
ANC Remains Defiant
The African National Congress has dismissed criticism of the GNU and reaffirmed its support for Ramaphosa’s leadership and the decision to appoint the inquiry.
In a weekend statement, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu praised the President for choosing “constitutionalism over populist shortcuts.” The ANC also reiterated its commitment to rooting out corruption and restoring public trust.
“The strength of our democracy will be judged not by the absence of crisis, but by how we respond to it,” Bhengu said.
No Response Yet from Presidency
At the time of publication, the Presidency had not confirmed receipt of the MKP’s legal letter. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
As the Friday deadline looms, all eyes are on Ramaphosa. Whether he responds publicly, engages the MKP’s demands, or holds his ground, the outcome could have serious implications for the GNU’s stability — and for the broader future of South African democracy.
With mounting pressure from opposition parties, legal scrutiny, and public dissatisfaction, the battle for ethical governance in South Africa appears far from over.
