President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing renewed calls to resign after South Africa’s Constitutional Court delivered a stinging rebuke of the parliamentary process that previously protected him from impeachment.
The court ruled that parliament acted unconstitutionally in 2022 when it blocked proceedings related to the 'Farmgate' scandal, where $580,000 in cash—allegedly from a buffalo sale—was stolen from the president's rural property. The ruling stems from a legal challenge brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement.
Opposition leader Julius Malema, who is currently appealing his own conviction for illegal firearm possession, has demanded Ramaphosa step down to focus on the looming impeachment process, arguing the president cannot effectively lead while facing such serious allegations.
While Ramaphosa’s office claims he respects the rule of law and remains committed to the constitution, the political landscape has shifted significantly since 2022. The African National Congress (ANC) no longer holds an absolute majority, and coalition partners are now signaling that the impeachment committee must finally perform its duties.
As the legal fallout continues, the president must now answer for the original findings of an independent panel that suggested he may have violated his oath of office by failing to properly account for the massive amount of foreign currency hidden at his farm.
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