South Africa’s top court revives impeachment inquiry against president
Summary
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has allowed the reopening of impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The court said parliament wrongly blocked an inquiry into a theft of cash from Ramaphosa’s farm, and now an impeachment committee must review the case.Key Facts
- The court ruled that parliament’s 2022 decision to stop an impeachment inquiry was against the constitution and invalid.
- The controversy involves a theft of cash from Ramaphosa’s farmhouse, known as the “Farmgate” scandal.
- Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), blocked the inquiry in 2022 using its majority in parliament.
- The case was brought by two opposition parties: the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM).
- Ramaphosa denies wrongdoing and says the money taken came from selling buffalo on his farm.
- An impeachment committee will now review evidence before deciding if formal impeachment proceedings should begin.
- Even if the committee recommends impeachment, Ramaphosa would likely survive a vote since a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly is needed to remove him.
- The president has been in power since 2018, and the ANC lost its majority in the 2024 election but still holds more than one-third of seats.
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