South Africa Court Orders Parliament to Resume Ramaphosa Impeachment Process

Mintesinot Niggusie

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ordered parliament to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, ruling that lawmakers acted unlawfully when they halted the process linked to the “Farmgate” scandal in 2022.

Judges found that a parliamentary vote held in December 2022, which blocked an independent panel’s findings from being referred to an impeachment committee, was inconsistent with the constitution. The court directed parliament to send the report to an impeachment committee for further proceedings.

The case was brought before the Constitutional Court by Economic Freedom Fighters and later joined by another opposition party. The ruling places renewed attention on allegations connected to a burglary at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in 2020, where foreign currency was reportedly hidden inside furniture.

A former intelligence official had accused the president of attempting to conceal details surrounding the theft, claims that later became known locally as the “Farmgate” scandal. Ramaphosa acknowledged the burglary but denied any misconduct, stating that about 580,000 US dollars stolen during the incident came from proceeds of a buffalo sale.

An independent parliamentary panel previously concluded there was evidence indicating the president may have committed misconduct, although Ramaphosa was never criminally charged.

Following Friday’s judgment, Ramaphosa said he respected the Constitutional Court’s decision and reiterated that “no person is above the law.” The decision comes as the ruling African National Congress governs through a coalition arrangement after losing its parliamentary majority in the 2024 election.

Its coalition partner, Democratic Alliance, said it would participate fully in the impeachment committee process while avoiding any premature conclusions on the outcome. The revived impeachment proceedings are expected to intensify political scrutiny on Ramaphosa at a time when South Africa’s coalition government is already facing pressure.