South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that he will not resign despite Parliament moving forward with an impeachment inquiry linked to the controversial theft of cash hidden at his Phala Phala game farm. In a televised national address on Monday, Ramaphosa said he intends to challenge in court a parliamentary report that found possible evidence of serious misconduct against him. His legal action could delay impeachment proceedings expected to follow a recent Constitutional Court ruling. The South African Parliament earlier confirmed it would establish a multi-party impeachment committee after the Constitutional Court ruled last week that a 2022 parliamentary vote blocking impeachment proceedings was unconstitutional. “I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said.
The scandal centers on the theft of a large sum of US dollars, reportedly more than $580,000 stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala ranch in 2020. The cash had allegedly been hidden inside furniture at the property. The allegations first surfaced publicly in 2022 after a former head of South Africa’s state security agency accused the president of money laundering, concealing the theft, and improperly using state resources to investigate the incident privately. Ramaphosa has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying the money came from the legitimate sale of buffaloes to a foreign buyer. However, critics questioned why such a large amount of cash was stored at the farm and whether the full amount was properly declared.
An independent parliamentary panel in 2022 found there was “prima facie” evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the constitution and anti-corruption laws. The report also alleged that members of the president’s security team were used to secretly track down suspects linked to the theft. At the time, Ramaphosa survived impeachment proceedings after lawmakers from his African National Congress (ANC) party used their parliamentary majority to block the process. Under South Africa’s constitution, removing a president from office would require the support of at least two-thirds of the 400-member National Assembly. The newly formed impeachment committee must first investigate the allegations before any parliamentary vote can take place. The case continues to cast a shadow over Ramaphosa’s leadership as South Africa grapples with economic challenges, corruption concerns, and growing political pressure ahead of future elections.
