South Africa's president wins bid to temporarily halt impeachment inquiry over 'Farmgate'

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has won a bid to temporarily halt parliamentary impeachment inquiry proceedings related to the 2020 theft of cash from his private farm. The Western Cape high court ruled that the parliamentary committee cannot proceed with hearings pending the determination of Ramaphosa's separate legal challenge against the panel. His legal team argued that continuing the impeachment process before his other case is resolved could cause irreparable reputational harm. The ruling, made by a majority of three judges, means impeachment proceedings are suspended until Ramaphosa's review case is finalized. The controversy stems from a robbery at his Phala Phala farm where an alleged $580,000 was stolen from a sofa, with details emerging two years later when the former spy chief accused Ramaphosa of concealing the theft.

A South African court has halted impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa concerning the "Phala-Phala scandal," where over $580,000 was stolen from his farm in 2020. The Western Cape High Court's decision on Friday allows the impeachment committee to continue preparatory work but pauses the main proceedings. Lawmakers initiated impeachment after a parliamentary report found Ramaphosa had a case to answer regarding the handling of the theft, the source of the cash, its declaration, and the delay in reporting it. Ramaphosa is challenging the report and sought the halt until his court review is complete. His office welcomed the judgment, stating his commitment to accountability and judicial independence. The Constitutional Court had previously ruled the parliamentary report valid, allowing impeachment to proceed.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured a temporary halt to a parliamentary impeachment process. The Western Cape High Court granted an interim interdict preventing the impeachment committee from proceeding with public hearings. This decision comes as Ramaphosa challenges the legality of a 2022 report that suggested he may have committed serious violations and misconduct related to the "Farmgate" scandal. The scandal involves a large sum of undeclared foreign currency found at his ranch, which nearly cost him his leadership of the African National Congress in 2022. Ramaphosa has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating the money was from buffalo sales. The court's ruling is pending a determination on the review of the report's findings.