Big win for President Cyril Ramaphosa

The Western Cape High Court granted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to temporarily interdict and pause Section 89 impeachment proceedings by Parliament.

Ramaphosa asked the court to pause the impeachment proceedings until the court finalises a separate application for a review of an independent panel’s report.

This parliamentary impeachment process is aimed at probing allegations related to his Phala Phala scandal.

The Phala Phala scandal, often referred to as Farmgate, is one of the most significant political controversies surrounding Ramaphosa.

What began as a quiet housebreaking at his private game farm escalated to allegations of money laundering, institutional cover-ups, and abuse of state power.

Ramaphosa maintained that the money, which he stated was $580,000 hidden in a couch, was the legitimate proceeds from selling buffalo to a Sudanese businessman.

However, the episode raised questions about why the money was hidden in furniture and whether he had declared it.

The Constitutional Court revived impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa last month, finding that a parliamentary vote to halt the proceedings in 2022 was invalid.

Farmgate has been a major embarrassment for him as he came to power on a pledge to fight corruption and clean up the image of his African National Congress (ANC) party.

However, most political analysts expect him to survive if the impeachment process goes to a vote in parliament.

On Friday, 24 July 2026, Ramaphosa released a statement saying he respects the Western Cape High Court’s ruling.

“The President reaffirms his respect for judicial independence and separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution,” the statement said.

“The President will continue to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign

On 11 May 2026, Ramaphosa addressed the nation at the Union Buildings regarding the Phala Phala scandal.

He said he will not resign following the Constitutional Court judgment on the Section 89 impeachment process linked to the theft at his farm.

“I will not resign. To do so would be to preempt a process defined by the Constitution. To do so would be to give credence to a panel report that, unfortunately, has grave flaws.”

“To do so would be to abdicate the responsibility that I assumed when I became President of the Republic.”

“To resign now would be to give in to those who seek to reverse the renewal of our society, the rebuilding of our institutions and the prosecution of corruption,” he said.

The President said he remains committed to serving South Africans and completing the mandate entrusted to him.

“I fully intend to continue serving the people of South Africa and to advance their interests. There is still much work to be done,” he said.