South African Court Halts Impeachment Proceedings Against Ramaphosa

A South African court has temporarily suspended impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, pending the outcome of his legal challenge to a report that questioned his conduct in the controversial Phala Phala cash scandal.

The Western Cape High Court ruled that Parliament must halt its impeachment process until the court decides on Ramaphosa's application seeking to overturn an independent panel's findings issued in 2022.

The panel had concluded that there was sufficient evidence suggesting the president may have breached constitutional obligations in relation to the handling of a large sum of foreign currency reportedly stolen from his Phala Phala game farm.

Ramaphosa has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the money originated from the legitimate sale of 20 buffaloes and that the burglary was reported to law enforcement authorities.

The allegations were initially raised by a former intelligence official, who claimed the president failed to properly disclose the theft to the relevant authorities and attempted to conceal the incident.

Following Friday's ruling, Ramaphosa reiterated his commitment to the rule of law, saying he respects the independence of the judiciary and remains prepared to cooperate with all lawful accountability processes.

The president's application challenging the findings of the 2022 independent panel is expected to be heard by the court in September.

Although Parliament previously voted against initiating impeachment proceedings, that decision was later overturned by the Constitutional Court, which directed lawmakers to establish a committee to examine the matter further.

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

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