South African opposition leader Julius Malema has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign after the Constitutional Court ruled that parliament violated the constitution by blocking impeachment proceedings in 2022.
The judgment follows a legal challenge by Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and others, and could result in fresh impeachment proceedings. Ramaphosa's office said he respects the judgment.
In 2022, an independent panel said Ramaphosa may have a case to answer after burglars stole $580,000 (£430,000) in cash hidden in a sofa from his rural home. The theft led to allegations that he had not accounted for the cash's origin, but the president denied wrongdoing.
Impeachment proceedings were blocked four years ago in a parliamentary vote when Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) had a majority. However, after the 2024 general election, the ANC governs in a coalition.
Following the judgment, Ramaphosa's office reaffirmed his commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary, and the rule of law. The statement said the president had been "consistent in providing his full assistance" to all inquiries.
Speaking outside the court in Johannesburg, Malema said Ramaphosa should resign and "concentrate on this impeachment process because it has got serious implications on him as an individual." He argued that one cannot serve both as president and prepare for impeachment.
The EFF took the case to the highest court alongside the African Transformation Movement in 2024. Malema himself faces difficulties as he appeals a sentence for illegal possession of a gun and firing it in public.
Malema's party has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, asking for a clear indication within 48 hours of steps she intends to take given the judgment.
Geordin Hill-Lewis, leader of the Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in the governing coalition, said politicians must uphold the rule of law, and parliament's impeachment committee must now do its work properly.
The saga, dubbed "Farmgate" by local media, began in 2020 after $580,000 was allegedly stolen from Ramaphosa's farm in Limpopo province. Two years later, an independent panel found evidence the president may have violated his oath, but parliament voted against setting up an impeachment committee.
Source: www.bbc.com