President Ramaphosa Tries to Stop the Impeachment Process

What Happened?

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing an impeachment inquiry linked to the Phala Phala farm scandal. In December 2022, Parliament used its ANC majority to block the inquiry. The Constitutional Court later said that move was unconstitutional and ordered Parliament to restart the process.

The Court’s Decision

The Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament must:

• Reopen the impeachment inquiry.
• Send the independent Section 89 panel’s report straight to an impeachment committee.

Following the ruling, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza announced a 31‑member committee made up of parties from the National Assembly. Parties have until May 22 to nominate their members.

Ramaphosa’s Response

President Ramaphosa said he will not resign. Instead, he plans to ask the courts for an emergency order to stop the impeachment committee from being formed. ANC sources say the president has already told the party to “toe the line” and support his move.

What the ANC Says

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu‑Motsiri said the party was unaware of any secret plan by Ramaphosa to block parliamentary processes. She stressed that the Constitutional Court’s judgment was about procedure, not about proving the president guilty of a crime.

The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) met last week and unanimously backed Ramaphosa. NEC secretary Fikile Mbalula said the party’s support for the president will continue until the next national elective conference in 2027.

Legal Expert Opinions

Lawyer Zwelethu “Mighty” Madasa

Madasa argues that Ramaphosa has the right to ask the court to halt the impeachment because it could harm his reputation and affect his future retirement benefits. He notes that the court must decide whether stopping the process would cause irreparable harm.

Political Analysts

Professor Andre Duvenhage sees the president’s move as a way to buy time during a tough political moment. Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast says Ramaphosa could have challenged the report earlier and questions whether he is acting in good faith.

What’s Next?

Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya said the public should wait for the court papers to be filed. If the court grants the emergency order, the impeachment committee may be delayed or stopped. If not, the committee will continue its investigation and decide whether there are enough grounds to remove the president.

Conclusion

The Phala Phala scandal has put President Ramaphosa under intense scrutiny. While the Constitutional Court ordered Parliament to restart the impeachment process, the president is trying to use the courts to pause it. The coming weeks will show whether legal challenges succeed or whether the impeachment committee moves forward to examine the evidence against him.