South Africa’s Ramaphosa Challenges Misconduct Finding in Farmgate Cash Scandal
Ramaphosa seeks to overturn a report that found preliminary evidence of misconduct and revived impeachment proceedings backed by 31 lawmakers.
- On Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa filed a legal challenge against a panel report finding preliminary evidence of misconduct over the scandal dubbed "Farmgate," asserting the report has grave flaws.
- A Constitutional Court ruling earlier this month overturned Parliament's 2022 decision to block impeachment, after opposition parties argued the panel's evidence should have triggered a full investigation.
- The scandal centers on around $580,000 in foreign currency hidden in a sofa at Ramaphosa's Phala Phala ranch; Ramaphosa claimed the U.S. banknotes came from buffalo sales, but an independent panel found the source unclear and amount possibly larger than claimed.
- Ramaphosa acknowledged the theft but denied wrongdoing, saying he reported it to his police protection unit, though Parliament announced it will form an impeachment committee to fully investigate.
- Impeaching Ramaphosa requires a two-thirds vote in South Africa's 400-member Parliament; despite losing its outright majority in 2024, his African National Congress party retains sufficient votes to block removal as he enters his final term ending in 2029.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Ramaphosa launches defense against fresh impeachment push
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa launched a legal bid to block revived efforts to impeach him, a counter-offensive that ties his political survival to the credibility of Pretoria’s most respected institutions.The challenge comes almost two weeks after a landmark Constitutional Court ruling ordered parliament to restart an impeachment inquiry into Ramaphosa’s handling of the theft of $580,000 cash hidden inside a sofa at his Phala Phala pr…
Ramaphosa accuses panel of relying on hearsay in latest Phala Phala fightback
This article was first published by Business DayKey topics:Ramaphosa rejects Phala Phala report as hearsayPresident fights impeachment over farm cash theftCourt bid challenges evidence and panel findingsBy Sinesipho SchrieberPresident Cyril Ramaphosa has pushed back hard at an independent report into the theft of millions of rand at his Phala Phala farm, saying it amounts to nothing but hearsay.The president is making a high-stakes bid to avert …
South Africa: Ramaphosa Takes Phala Phala Report to Court, Threatens to Interdict Impeachment Process
The President has filed an application to the Western Cape high court urging that it review and set aside the Section 89 panel report and invalidate any actions taken by the National Assembly pursuant to it.
Ramaphosa takes Phala Phala report to court in bid to block impeachment process – The Mail & Guardian
President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a fresh legal bid in the Western Cape High Court to overturn the 2022 independent panel report that found prima facie evidence he may have committed serious misconduct and violated the Constitution in relation to the Phala Phala farm scandal, as parliament moves closer to constituting an impeachment committee following a Constitutional Court ruling earlier this year. The application, filed by attorneys Harr…
Ramaphosa takes Phala Phala report to court, threatens to interdict impeachment process
The President has filed an application to the Western Cape high court urging that it review and set aside the Section 89 panel report and invalidate any actions taken by the National Assembly pursuant to it.
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