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South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that Parliament acted unconstitutionally when it halted efforts to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022 over the theft of a large sum of foreign currency from his farm. The ruling, delivered by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya on Friday, declared the December 2022 National Assembly vote "inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid, and it is set aside," as reported by multiple outlets including Africa News, Al Jazeera, and BBC — World.

The court ordered that the report of an independent panel be referred to an impeachment committee, a procedural step that revives the possibility of the president facing an impeachment inquiry. The case was brought by opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), who argued that lawmakers improperly blocked a process meant to examine serious allegations against the head of state.

President Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing in the scandal, saying the money came from the sale of buffalo at his farm. He has announced he will not resign and will challenge the impeachment proceedings against him, according to multiple sources.

Coverage Comparison

The ruling has been reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, BBC — World, Deutsche Welle, and France 24 — English, with most outlets focusing on the court's decision and its political implications. Coverage emphasizes that the court did not rule on the substance of the allegations but rather examined whether lawmakers acted lawfully in rejecting a recommendation from an independent panel to proceed with an impeachment inquiry.

Some reports, such as those from Africa News and Al Jazeera, highlight the immediate political fallout, including calls from opposition leaders like EFF's Julius Malema for Ramaphosa's resignation. Others, including Deutsche Welle and BBC — World, focus on Ramaphosa's response, his legal challenge to the panel report, and the procedural steps ahead.

A few outlets, such as AllAfrica, provide analysis suggesting that despite the court's ruling, Ramaphosa is unlikely to be removed from office, given the two-thirds majority required in Parliament and the political calculations involved. The ANC, which now governs in a coalition after losing its majority in 2024, has said it will follow the Constitutional Court ruling and not use the process to shield the president, according to statements from ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula.

Key Claims

  • The Constitutional Court declared the December 2022 National Assembly vote to halt impeachment proceedings unconstitutional and invalid, as stated by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, reported by multiple outlets.
  • The case stems from a 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, where a large sum of foreign currency—reported as around $580,000—was stolen from inside furniture, according to several sources.
  • Ramaphosa has denied wrongdoing, saying the money was proceeds from the sale of buffalo to a Sudanese businessman. He has not been charged with any crime, as noted by Deutsche Welle.
  • An independent panel, led by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, found that Ramaphosa "may have committed" serious violations of the Constitution and the law, a finding cited by multiple outlets.
  • The court ordered that the panel's report be referred to an impeachment committee, which Parliament has since established. The committee, chaired by Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana, is due to begin its work, as reported by AllAfrica.
  • Ramaphosa has said he will not resign and will seek a judicial review of the panel report, which he argues has "grave flaws," according to his televised address reported by Deutsche Welle and BBC — World.
  • Impeaching the president would require a two-thirds majority in the 400-member National Assembly, a threshold that analysts say is unlikely to be met, as noted by Al Jazeera and AllAfrica.

Perspectives

ANC (African National Congress)

The ANC has said it will follow the Constitutional Court ruling and will not use the impeachment process to protect President Ramaphosa. Secretary General Fikile Mbalula stated that the party is "not going into the impeachment process to defend the report," but rather guided by the court's ruling. He also dismissed demands for Ramaphosa's immediate resignation, saying opponents were making "mixed demands."

Opposition Parties (EFF, DA, ATM, and others)

Opposition parties have welcomed the ruling and called for accountability. EFF leader Julius Malema said the ruling proves the ANC abused its power to protect Ramaphosa and has called on him to resign, saying "you cannot serve the two"—the presidency and impeachment proceedings. Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the decision shows a "clear line" between his party and the ANC, adding that "for too long, the ANC has presided over a political culture in which accountability is delayed, diluted or avoided when it becomes inconvenient." The DA has also pushed for the impeachment committee to be chaired by a non-ANC member, though a Rise Mzansi MP was ultimately elected.

Presidency

The Presidency has said it "noted the judgement" and that Ramaphosa respects it. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya reiterated that "President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice." Ramaphosa has announced he will not resign and will challenge the panel report in court, arguing it relied on hearsay evidence.

Analysts and Experts

Governance expert Thelela Ngcetane-Vika at Wits University told DW that the court ruling is not a verdict on guilt or innocence, emphasizing that Ramaphosa is "guilty only in the court of public opinion." Political analyst Professor Richard Calland told the BBC that while the president would likely survive a parliamentary vote, the legal challenge may be aimed at avoiding a damaging impeachment hearing altogether, which could hurt his reputation and legacy. Other analysts cited by AllAfrica suggest the ANC is expected to rally behind Ramaphosa, making his removal unlikely.