South African Court Halts Impeachment Proceedings Against Ramaphosa

A South African court on Friday ruled in favour of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to temporarily halt impeachment proceedings against him over a scandal involving more than half a million dollars allegedly hidden in a sofa at his Phala Phala ranch.

Ramaphosa had asked the Western Cape High Court to suspend the work of a parliamentary impeachment committee pending the outcome of his legal challenge to a November 2022 independent panel report, which found he “may have committed” serious constitutional violations and misconduct.

The president has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has rejected calls to resign since the alleged stash of foreign currency came to light following a reported theft at his ranch in 2020.

“Pending the determination by this court of the applicant’s review… respondents are interdicted from proceeding with a public impeachment hearing,” Judge Andre le Grange ruled.

Ramaphosa was accused of failing to properly report the 2020 break-in and the theft of $580,000 from his luxury Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo Province to police and tax authorities.

He has maintained that he reported the burglary to the police and that the money was proceeds from the sale of 20 buffaloes.

The complaint against him was filed by a former intelligence chief and ally of ex-President Jacob Zuma, who alleged that Ramaphosa concealed a robbery involving $4 million from law enforcement and tax officials.

Responding to criticism from opposition parties that he was evading accountability, Ramaphosa said after Friday’s ruling that he remained committed to the rule of law.

In a statement, the president said he “reaffirms his respect of judicial independence and separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution.”

“The President will continue to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability,” the statement added.

If the impeachment process eventually proceeds, it would mark the first such proceedings against a sitting South African president.

The court is expected to hear Ramaphosa’s application to overturn the 2022 panel report in September.

Although the National Assembly—where Ramaphosa’s ruling African National Congress held a majority—previously voted against initiating impeachment proceedings, the Constitutional Court overturned that decision in May this year, paving the way for the establishment of a parliamentary impeachment committee.

Meanwhile, public prosecutors dropped criminal charges related to the matter in 2024.