High Court Grants Temporary Pause Pending Legal Review
A South African High Court has temporarily suspended parliamentary impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, giving him temporary relief as he challenges the legal basis of the inquiry.
The court granted Ramaphosa an interdict on Friday, pausing the impeachment process until a judicial review of an independent panel report is heard.
The president sought the order after arguing that Parliament should not proceed with an impeachment inquiry before the courts determine whether the panel’s findings were lawful.
Inquiry Linked to Phala Phala Farm Scandal
The impeachment process stems from the controversial Phala Phala scandal, involving the theft of $580,000 in undeclared foreign currency hidden inside a sofa at Ramaphosa’s game farm in Limpopo Province.
The robbery took place in 2020 but only became public two years later.
Ramaphosa has faced allegations that he failed to properly report the theft to police and tax authorities.
The president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying the money came from the legitimate sale of buffalo at his farm. He has also repeatedly ruled out resigning over the matter.
Court Review Delays Parliamentary Action
In 2022, an independent panel concluded there was evidence suggesting Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution and could have a case to answer.
However, South Africa’s National Assembly voted against launching impeachment proceedings, with Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) using its parliamentary majority to reject the report.
Although prosecutors later dropped the criminal investigation in 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled in May this year that Parliament’s earlier decision was unconstitutional, leading lawmakers to establish a parliamentary impeachment committee.
Ramaphosa has since challenged the legality of the panel report, with the review scheduled to be heard in September.
His legal team argued that forcing him to face impeachment before that review would unfairly damage his reputation.
President Reaffirms Respect for the Courts
Following Friday’s ruling, Ramaphosa welcomed the decision and said he remains committed to South Africa’s constitutional processes.
In a statement, the president said he respects judicial independence and the separation of powers.
He also pledged to continue cooperating with all lawful accountability processes.
The court’s decision means the impeachment inquiry cannot continue until after the legal review has been completed.
Removal From Office Still Considered Unlikely
Political analysts say that even if Parliament eventually resumes the impeachment process, Ramaphosa is unlikely to be removed from office because of the political support he continues to enjoy.
If the inquiry proceeds after the court review, it would mark the first impeachment process ever conducted against a sitting South African president.
For now, the High Court’s ruling postpones what could become one of the country’s most significant constitutional and political proceedings.
