Nelson Puckree of Stanger Heights writes:

South Africa is one of the most unique countries on the African continent, where citizens do not rely on coups d’état or violent protests to remove a sitting president from office.

Our first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, stepped down voluntarily.
The next two presidents, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, were removed from office before completing their terms.

Now Cyril Ramaphosa finds himself in the firing line, facing calls for impeachment.

Should an impeachment process succeed, will the so-called “new dawn” ride quietly into the sunset?
President Ramaphosa has generally been regarded as a capable leader, but critics argue that he fell on his own sword by violating the very Constitution he helped to draft. If that is the case, he should have known better.

In the past, the ANC used its parliamentary majority to shield some of its members from accountability by closing ranks, undermining both citizens and the Constitution. Many believe this has contributed to the party’s declining support at the polls.

Now that South Africa is governed through a Government of National Unity (GNU), the question is whether President Ramaphosa would survive an impeachment process if committee members voted according to their consciences.

Only time will tell.