S.africa President considering resignation after report finds he violated constitution

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering resigning after an advisory panel investigating a burglary scandal at his farm found that he may have violated the constitution, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Boomberg reported that people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified are not authorised to speak to the media because they are not allowed to speak to the media. Ramaphosa is in meetings with close allies to give advice on the matter.

The country's parliament is set to look at the report and decide whether to push ahead with impeachment proceedings next week, just days before Ramaphosa faces a crucial internal party election.

The President is expected to address the panel's findings on Thursday.

The three-person panel set up in September to investigate the alleged cover-up of theft at Mr Ramaphosa's farmhouse wrote in its conclusions that the information it gathered discloses. The president may have committed serious violations and misconduct.

These include not reporting the theft directly to the police, acting in a way that is inconsistent with holding office and exposing himself to a conflict between his official responsibilities and his private business.

Mr Ramaphosa stated his denial of any wrongdoing in response to the report.

The conclusions of the panel need careful reading and appropriate consideration in the interest of the stability of the government and that of the country, the presidency said in a statement.

The affair, which has tarnished the president's reputation and overshadowed his bid for re-election as a ruling party leader, erupted in June after South Africa's former national spy boss filed a complaint with the police.

It was reported that Ramaphosa had hidden a burglary at his farm in Phala Phala in northeastern South Africa from the authorities.

Instead, he allegedly organised for the robbers to be kidnapped and bribed into silence.

The president has denied this, and laid out his position at length in the 138-sided submission that was leaked on Wednesday.

He wrote that I did not 'hunt' for the perpetrators of the theft, nor did I give any instructions for this to take place.

Ramaphosa said $580,000 in cash was stolen from under sofa cushions at his ranch.

A Sudanese citizen who had bought buffaloes made a sum that was paid.

Ramaphosa said that staff at the farm initially locked the money in an office safe.

He said that the safest place to store it would be under the cushions of a sofa in Ramaphosa's residence at the farm.

Ramaphosa told the inquiry that the accusations against him were without merit and asked him not to take the matter further. His request was rebuffed.