South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing renewed political pressure after the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament violated the Constitution when it blocked impeachment proceedings against him in 2022, reigniting debate over a scandal involving a large sum of cash stolen from his ranch.
The court’s decision stems from an incident that year in which a burglar stole approximately $580,000 in cash hidden inside a sofa at the president’s ranch. The theft led to allegations that Ramaphosa had failed to account for the origin of the money. The president has denied all wrongdoing.
At the time, Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), held an absolute majority in Parliament and quashed moves to impeach him. However, the Constitutional Court has now ruled that the move to quash the inquiry was unconstitutional.
“The National Assembly’s vote must likewise be set aside because it was taken under an invalid rule that prevented the National Assembly from properly determining whether a ground for impeachment existed,” the court found. “The vote therefore lacked a lawful foundation,” and the report must be referred to the impeachment committee.
The Presidency has responded by stating that Ramaphosa respects the court’s decision.
Political opponents, including Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who brought the matter to the Constitutional Court, are now demanding the president’s resignation.
“Looks like now is for Ramaphosa to use his conscience and resign as the president of South Africa and go and face the impeachment,” Malema said. “We can’t have a president that is doing the work of president and doing the work of impeachment. He must concentrate on one. This goes again to the doorstep of the ANC. They must choose South Africa or they must choose Ramaphosa.”
The ANC is no longer in a majority in Parliament, now governing as part of a coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA). The DA has stated it will participate fully in any impeachment proceedings and not prejudge their outcome.
South Africa’s Parliament must now establish an impeachment committee and reopen a process that may become the most serious threat to Ramaphosa’s presidency.