South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced he will not resign and will challenge the revived impeachment proceedings against him, following a Constitutional Court ruling that overturned a 2022 parliamentary vote blocking the process. In a televised address on Monday, Ramaphosa said he would seek a judicial review of the independent panel's report that found prima facie evidence of possible constitutional violations.

The scandal, known as the Phala Phala affair, erupted in June 2022 when former spy chief Arthur Fraser alleged a theft of nearly $4 million from Ramaphosa's game farm and an unlawful investigation. Ramaphosa acknowledged having $580,000 on the premises from the sale of buffalo to a Sudanese businessman, but denied wrongdoing.

In 2022, Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) used its parliamentary majority to block an impeachment motion. However, after losing its outright majority in the 2024 general election, the ANC was forced into a government of national unity with opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), altering the political dynamics.

The Constitutional Court on May 8 ruled that Parliament must establish a new Section 89 committee to investigate whether Ramaphosa should be removed from office. Governance expert Thelela Ngcetane-Vika from Wits University noted that the ruling is not a verdict of guilt but a procedural step, emphasizing that impeachment requires a two-thirds majority vote.

The DA, while acknowledging Ramaphosa's right to challenge the court ruling, urged him to act swiftly and called for Parliament to seek urgent legal advice. The party stated, "This remains an ANC-made crisis, rooted in serious unanswered questions about the President's conduct."

Analysts suggest the outcome is uncertain given the fragmented political landscape. The DA has hinted it may not vote for impeachment, but the ANC's internal divisions and the changed parliamentary arithmetic could influence the final vote. Ramaphosa's legal challenge may delay proceedings, but the pressure on him continues to mount.

Source: www.dw.com