South Africa president to mount legal action in face of impeachment threat

Cyril Ramaphosa denies any wrongdoing and has welcomed a separate police inquiry into the allegations. Photograph: Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters

Cyril Ramaphosa, the embattled president of South Africa, has rejected calls to step down and said he will seek a judicial review of a report handed over last week by an independent panel appointed by parliament that accused him of “serious misconduct”, aides said.

The move may forestall looming impeachment but could plunge South Africa into a prolonged bout of political instability.