South African court pauses President Cyril Ramaphosa's impeachment process

News South African court pauses President Cyril Ramaphosa's impeachment process South African President Cyril Ramaphosa   -   Copyright © africanews AP Photo By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Last updated: 24/07 - 13:44 South Africa A high court in South Africa on Friday granted President Cyril Ramaphosa an interdict temporarily halting a parliamentary impeachment inquiry against him. Ramaphosa had sought to stay the public inquiry pending a legal review of an independent panel report in 2022. It found that he may have ​violated the constitution and have a case to answer in the so-called “Farmgate” scandal. This involves the 2020 theft of $580,000 in undeclared foreign currency ⁠hidden in a sofa on his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo province. Details of the robbery only emerged two years later. The president is accused of hiding the break-in and theft from both the police and tax authorities. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, saying the cash was the proceeds of the sale of buffalo, and has ruled out resigning over the incident. The panel report was rejected in a vote in the National Assembly, where his ruling African National Congress held a majority, quashing the opening of impeachment proceedings at that time. The public prosecutor dropped the charges in 2024. However, the Constitutional Court overturned the parliament vote in May this year, leading to the establishment of the parliamentary impeachment committee. Ramaphosa then launched a review challenging the legality of the report, which will be heard in September. His advocate had argued that subjecting the president to an impeachment inquiry on the back of a flawed report would “humiliate” him. The ruling likely spares Ramaphosa further embarrassment over the scandal until the review is heard. But analysts say that even if the impeachment process gets off the ground, he is unlikely to be removed from office. Ramaphosa said after the court decision that he "reaffirms his respect of judicial independence and separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution." "The President will continue to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability," a statement said. Should the impeachment proceedings go ahead, they would be the first for a sitting South African president. You may also like 01:27 Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 25 minutes ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 1 hour ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 1 hour ago From the same country 02:32 An endangered frog living in the middle of South Africa's Cape Town 27/08 - 14:39 South Africa: Four arrested over murder of boxing champion Zolani Tete 29/08 - 15:33 02:12 Duck brigade replaces pesticides on wine farm in South Africa 21/08 - 17:58 View more Share More About Cyril Ramaphosa Justice destitution Impeachment Robbery Court You may also like 01:27 Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 25 minutes ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 1 hour ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 1 hour ago From the same country 02:32 An endangered frog living in the middle of South Africa's Cape Town 27/08 - 14:39 South Africa: Four arrested over murder of boxing champion Zolani Tete 29/08 - 15:33 02:12 Duck brigade replaces pesticides on wine farm in South Africa 21/08 - 17:58 On the same subject NEWS 01:33 SA court postpones extradition hearing of UK man charged with murdering family 28/08 - 07:28 NEWS 00:59 South Africa: Family murder suspect Ndodana Tshuma remanded until September 27/08 - 16:54 NEWS 01:00 Belgian university suspends academic who accused Arday of plagiarism 21/08 - 13:09 NEWS 01:06 DR Congo: Prosecutors seek 15-year prison sentence for ex-justice minister 20/08 - 16:42 SPORT 01:18 Reuters: Continental confederations in talks to oust FIFA boss Infantino 20/08 - 16:33 NEWS 01:05 Zambian opposition leader to challenge presidential poll results in court 20/08 - 11:42 More stories 01:25 General Abdourahamane Tchiani Calm returns to Niger's capital one day after failed army mutiny 8 hours ago 01:02 Coup Vote counting underway in Guinea-Bissau referendum that could expand presidential powers 7 hours ago 00:56 United Kingdom Notting Hill Carnival kicks off in a burst of colour and Caribbean tradition 3 hours ago