South African Governing Party Retains Key Ramaphosa Graft Reform
- Two provinces had pushed to have step-aside rule scrapped
- Decision to retain rule is setback for Ramaphosa’s detractors
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa in Durban, on July 24.
Photographer: Rajesjh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images
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South Africa’s governing party rejected calls to review a so-called step-aside rule that compels indicted officials to step down from their roles.
The decision at the African National Congress’s five-yearly policy conference is a setback for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s detractors. They’ve argued that the policy has been applied selectively to bar potential opponents from challenging him and running for other positions when the party elects its leaders in December. Proponents of scrapping the rule had intended to use the issue as a proxy to test their voting bloc’s strength before the elective conference.