South Africas Top Court Revives Impeachment Inquiry Against President

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that parliament’s decision to block an inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s involvement in a 2020 farmhouse theft is unconstitutional. The court ordered that the independent panel’s report be referred to an impeachment committee, paving the way for the revival of impeachment proceedings against the president.

In 2022, the ANC party used its parliamentary majority to reject a recommendation by an independent panel that Ramaphosa face an inquiry into the theft of approximately $4 million in foreign currency from his farmhouse. The scandal, known as “Farmgate,” sparked accusations that Ramaphosa had failed to properly account for the source of the money.

The case was brought by two opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the African Transformation Movement. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the money came from the sale of buffalo at his farm. An impeachment committee will review evidence against him before deciding whether to recommend formal proceedings.

Despite the ruling, it is unlikely that Ramaphosa would be removed from office through impeachment. The ANC party retains more than one-third of the seats in the National Assembly, and a two-thirds majority is required to remove him from office. The allegations against Ramaphosa surfaced in June 2022 after South Africa’s former head of the State Security Agency, Arthur Fraser, accused him of attempting to cover up the theft.

The impeachment committee is expected to take several months to review evidence and make a decision on whether to vote for an inquiry. Ramaphosa’s office has stated that he respects the court’s judgment and that no one is above the law.

Source: Al Jazeera