South Africa’s top court has ordered parliament to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a long-running corruption scandal known locally as “Farmgate,” in a ruling that reopens a politically sensitive chapter but is unlikely to immediately threaten his presidency.
The Constitutional Court ruled Friday that parliament’s earlier decision to block the formation of an impeachment committee was inconsistent with the constitution, and instructed lawmakers to establish the panel to examine allegations linked to the 2020 incident at Ramaphosa’s private farm.
The case centres on claims that large sums of foreign currency were stolen from inside a sofa at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm, raising questions about the origin of the cash and whether it was properly declared.
Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, saying the money was proceeds from the sale of buffaloes on his ranch. He has acknowledged a burglary occurred but has disputed the scale of the funds allegedly involved.
The scandal, dubbed “Farmgate” by South African media, first erupted in 2022 after a former intelligence official alleged that Ramaphosa had attempted to conceal the theft of about $4 million in cash. The president said the stolen amount was closer to $580,000.
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In its ruling, the court said parliament’s move to halt the impeachment process was unlawful and that lawmakers must now proceed with establishing an investigative committee.
Ramaphosa said in a statement that he respected the court’s decision.
Political analysts, however, said the ruling does not automatically translate into impeachment and that any removal of a sitting president would still require a two-thirds majority vote in parliament.
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The process is expected to be lengthy and politically complex. Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC), which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid, lost its outright majority in the 2024 general election but remains the largest party in parliament.
It continues to rely on coalition partners, including the Democratic Alliance, making the likelihood of a successful impeachment vote uncertain.
An earlier independent panel appointed in 2022 found preliminary evidence suggesting possible misconduct, which intensified political pressure on the president at the time. However, parliament ultimately blocked further investigation, triggering legal challenges that led to Friday’s ruling.
Opposition parties, particularly the Economic Freedom Fighters, have repeatedly pushed for Ramaphosa’s removal and immediately called for the impeachment committee to be convened following the court decision.
The case is expected to be closely watched within South Africa’s political establishment, where Ramaphosa remains a central figure in managing internal divisions within the ANC and maintaining coalition stability.
Law experts say the revived process will involve detailed parliamentary scrutiny, potentially stretching over several months, before any final recommendations are made.
While the court ruling reopens a politically damaging episode for Ramaphosa, analysts say his continued support within both the ANC and governing coalition partners makes an immediate exit unlikely.
For now, the decision marks a procedural victory for opposition parties seeking further investigation, but not necessarily a turning point in the presidency itself.
