Opposition parties push for impeachment hearings against Cyril Ramaphosa
- Two opposition parties have requested the Constitutional Court to reinstate impeachment hearings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a cash scandal.
- The scandal revolves around a significant amount of money that was stolen from Ramaphosa's ranch, raising accusations of misconduct.
- Reviving impeachment proceedings could have serious implications for Ramaphosa's presidency, especially after losing his parliamentary majority.
In South Africa, two opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the African Transformation Movement, have approached the Constitutional Court to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa. This request comes in response to a scandal involving over half a million dollars in cash that was reportedly hidden in a couch at his ranch and subsequently stolen. The cash theft, which occurred in early 2020, was only revealed to the public two years later, leading to accusations against Ramaphosa of money laundering and violating foreign currency laws. Despite Ramaphosa being cleared of wrongdoing by financial authorities and law enforcement after a lengthy investigation, the opposition asserts that Parliament failed to hold him accountable for possible misconduct, following a preliminary investigation that indicated the need for a full inquiry. In late 2022, the majority party in Parliament, the African National Congress, utilized its power to halt an impeachment vote that could have led to Ramaphosa's removal. The opposition parties argue that this decision was unconstitutional, and they are now requesting that the Constitutional Court overrule that parliamentary vote. Since Ramaphosa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in the May 2024 election, the stakes surrounding an impeachment revival have intensified, particularly given the political landscape that has shifted with coalition partners. The outcome of these moves may significantly impact Ramaphosa's leadership role in the country moving forward, although the support needed to successfully pursue impeachment from additional parties in the ANC-led coalition government remains uncertain. As the Constitutional Court processes the request, the timeline for a ruling could extend to several weeks or months, leaving key political questions hanging for South Africa's future, particularly regarding accountability at the highest levels of government.