South African president to face impeachment probe over ‘Farmgate’ scandal

South Africa's parliament will launch an impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa next week concerning the "Farmgate" scandal. The impeachment committee, tasked with examining allegations of misconduct, will hold its first meeting on Monday. This development follows a Constitutional Court ruling that revived the impeachment process. President Ramaphosa denies any wrongdoing related to the theft of a large sum of cash from his private farm in 2020, with questions surrounding the money's origin and concealment. He is challenging the independent panel's report that found preliminary evidence of misconduct by filing a legal application, which could potentially delay the inquiry. The Democratic Alliance, a coalition partner, is pushing for accountability and has stated the committee chairperson should not be from Ramaphosa's African National Congress party.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has initiated a legal challenge against a parliamentary report that could lead to his impeachment. He argues in a court submission that the report's authors "misconceived" their mandate and seeks to have it set aside, thereby nullifying the impeachment process. The controversy, known locally as "Farmgate," stems from an alleged $580,000 theft from Ramaphosa's farm in 2020. An independent panel later found evidence suggesting the president may have violated his oath of office regarding the handling of foreign currency, which should be deposited with an authorized dealer within 30 days. Ramaphosa maintains the cash originated from legitimate sales of buffalo from his farming business. A parliamentary impeachment committee has already been formed to determine if grounds exist to proceed with impeachment proceedings.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces potential impeachment over the "Farmgate" scandal, involving a 2020 break-in at his private ranch where over $500,000 in cash, allegedly hidden in furniture, was stolen. Ramaphosa is accused of covering up the incident and failing to report it to police and tax authorities, potentially concealing the source of the funds. The scandal has damaged his presidency, which began on an anti-corruption platform. A multi-party impeachment committee will investigate the allegations, though no timeframe has been set. The accusations surfaced in 2022 when a former state security agency head accused the president of money laundering related to the stolen cash.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated he will not resign following a call for impeachment proceedings. He intends to legally challenge a report that found prima facie evidence of serious misconduct related to the theft of large sums of cash from his private farm, Phala Phala. The Constitutional Court ruled last week that parliament acted unconstitutionally in its previous dismissal of an impeachment inquiry into the matter. Ramaphosa maintains the money was from legitimate sales and denies wrongdoing. He plans to ask the courts to review and set aside the report, arguing it was based on hearsay evidence.

South Africa's parliament will establish an impeachment committee to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa in the "Farmgate" scandal. This decision follows a ruling by the country's constitutional court, which found parliament's previous rejection of an inquiry into the scandal unconstitutional. The committee will examine allegations concerning a large sum of foreign currency stolen from Ramaphosa's game farm in 2020, including questions about its acquisition, declaration, and storage. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and stated he will not resign, intending to challenge a report finding preliminary evidence of misconduct. The impeachment probe is expected to take several months.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly stated he will not resign following a scandal involving stolen cash hidden in a sofa at his ranch. The Constitutional Court recently revived impeachment proceedings against him, but Ramaphosa maintains the ruling does not mandate his resignation. In a televised address, he acknowledged the court's decision but affirmed his intention to defend himself against the allegations. The incident, which involved thieves stealing foreign currency from his property, has led to significant political pressure for his removal from office. Ramaphosa's statement indicates he intends to continue his presidency and address the ongoing investigation.