Ramaphosa faces new pressure to resign due to reopened impeachment case

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing fresh political pressure after the country’s Constitutional Court ruled that parliament previously acted unconstitutionally in blocking impeachment proceedings against him in 2022.

The ruling has effectively reopened the door for renewed impeachment efforts, depending on how the national legislature chooses to proceed in the coming weeks.

Opposition leader Julius Malema has intensified calls for Ramaphosa’s resignation, arguing that the judgment has strengthened the case for renewed accountability proceedings. Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), said the president should step aside to allow proper scrutiny of the case.

The legal dispute stems from the controversial 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, where large sums of foreign currency were reportedly stolen from a sofa inside the property. The incident later raised questions about the source and declaration of the funds.

Ramaphosa has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the money came from legitimate buffalo sales.

In 2022, attempts to initiate impeachment proceedings were halted in parliament after a majority vote, when the African National Congress (ANC) still held parliamentary control. However, the political balance shifted after the 2024 general election, which led to a coalition government.

Following the court’s latest decision, Malema described the development as a turning point and urged Ramaphosa to resign, arguing that ongoing legal and political scrutiny would hinder his ability to govern effectively.

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He also suggested that parliament may now be more open to impeachment proceedings if they are formally revived, insisting that sufficient evidence exists for reconsideration.

The Phala Phala scandal has remained a major political issue in South Africa since it first emerged, with ongoing legal proceedings involving individuals accused of the burglary still continuing in court.

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