South Africa court revives Ramaphosa impeachment probe over ‘$580,000 stolen from his farm’

South Africa's constitutional court has reinstated impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal, overturning a 2022 parliamentary decision that halted the process. The case centres on the alleged theft of $580,000 in cash from Ramaphosa's private game farm in Limpopo in February 2020. The scandal became public in June 2022 after a criminal complaint accused the president of concealing the theft and raised questions about the origin of the money. An independent panel appointed by parliament's speaker concluded that Ramaphosa may have acted in a manner inconsistent with his office, citing concerns over transparency and accountability. Ramaphosa denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the matter was a private security incident involving his farm. Despite the panel's findings, parliament voted 214 to 148 to protect Ramaphosa from impeachment and rejected the adoption of the report, allowing him to serve a second term. The decision was challenged by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), who argued that the assembly violated constitutional procedures. On Friday, Constitutional Court Justice Mandisa Maya ruled that the national assembly's refusal to refer the panel's report to an impeachment committee was unlawful and invalid. The court ordered parliament to reconsider the referral in line with constitutional requirements. No new investigation was ordered, but the reinstated process means Ramaphosa could again face potential impeachment if parliament chooses to act. The ruling does not determine guilt or innocence but addresses procedural compliance.

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