What’s Going On?
The Constitutional Court’s Decision
On Friday South Africa’s Constitutional Court said Parliament acted unlawfully when it voted in 2022 to reject the Section 89 Independent Panel report that looked into claims about President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. The judges called the vote “irrational” and said it broke the Constitution. Because of that ruling, the report must be looked at again, which could open the door to an impeachment inquiry.
Why the EFF Is Angry
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) say the President is trying to dodge responsibility by using the courts to buy time. They point out that Ramaphosa first filed a court application to overturn the panel’s findings in December 2022, but later dropped it after Parliament’s vote made the report seem “moot.” Now, after the Court declared that vote invalid, the EFF claims Ramaphosa is thinking about filing a new review just to stall the inevitable impeachment process.
A Quick Timeline
- Feb 2020: A burglary at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm; about $580,000 (≈ R8 million) reportedly stolen.
- Dec 2022: Parliament, using its ANC majority, votes to reject the Section 89 panel report.
- Dec 2022: Ramaphosa launches a court application to review and set aside the panel’s findings.
- May 2023: Presidency says the review is no longer needed because Parliament’s vote made the report irrelevant.
- Friday (date of article): Constitutional Court rules Parliament’s 2022 vote was unconstitutional and orders the report to be reconsidered.
- After the ruling: EFF accuses Ramaphosa of planning a new court challenge to delay accountability; the Presidency says the President respects the judgment and supports due process.
What the Parties Are Saying
EFF (via spokesperson Sinawo Thambo):
- Claims Ramaphosa never wanted a real judicial review; he only used politics to bury the report.
- Says the Court’s decision restored constitutional order and that any new litigation should be thrown out “with contempt.”
- Calls for an immediate impeachment inquiry under Section 89 of the Constitution.
Presidency (via spokesperson Vincent Magwenya):
- States Ramaphosa respects the Court’s ruling and remains committed to the Constitution, judicial independence, and the rule of law.
- Notes the President has cooperated with all investigations into the matter.
Parliament:
- Says it will study the judgment and decide how to proceed with the National Assembly’s procedures.
- Speaker Thoko Didiza will now look at any motions, including a possible no‑confidence move from the MK Party, which wants a secret‑ballot vote.
What Could Happen Next?
- Re‑examination of the Panel Report – Parliament must look at the Section 89 findings again.
- Possible Impeachment Inquiry – If the report shows sufficient grounds, a formal impeachment process could start.
- Legal Maneuvering – Both sides may file more court papers; the EFF wants any new review dismissed outright.
- Political Pressure – Calls for Ramaphosa to step down are growing from various parties and the public.
Bottom Line for Teens
The biggest takeaway is that South Africa’s highest court said Parliament broke the rules when it tried to shut down an investigation into the President. Now the investigation is back on the table, and the EFF is accusing the President of using legal tricks to avoid facing the consequences. Whether this leads to an impeachment inquiry or just more legal back‑and‑forth remains to be seen, but the situation shows how important it is for leaders to follow the Constitution and for institutions like the courts to keep checks on power.
