Malema Urges Ramaphosa to Resign After Court Revives 2022 Impeachment Case
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 8
Malema Urges Ramaphosa to Resign After Court Revives 2022 Impeachment Case
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 8
South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled parliament acted unconstitutionally when it blocked moves to impeach President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, reopening a path to fresh proceedings.
Julius Malema responded by demanding Ramaphosa resign, saying the president cannot govern while preparing for an impeachment fight; the EFF also asked parliament's speaker for concrete next steps within 48 hours.
Ramaphosa's office said he respects the judgment and remains committed to due process, while ANC and Democratic Alliance figures said parliament's impeachment mechanism must now operate lawfully and independently.
The case stems from the 2020 theft of $580,000 hidden in a sofa at Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm; an independent panel later said he may have a case to answer, though he denies wrongdoing.
That earlier impeachment push failed 214-148 when the ANC still held a majority, but the party now governs in coalition after the 2024 election, potentially complicating any new vote.
Ramaphosa was cleared by multiple agencies, so what new truth could an impeachment probe now uncover about 'Farmgate'?
With the ANC's power diminished, will coalition politics decide the President's fate more than the facts of the case?
South Africa’s Constitutional Court Orders Impeachment Inquiry into President Ramaphosa over Phala Phala Scandal
Overview
On May 8, 2026, the Constitutional Court ruled that impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa must move forward, rejecting an earlier panel's recommendation and emphasizing the need for accountability. This decision followed a legal challenge by opposition parties, centering on the Phala Phala scandal involving alleged misconduct at Ramaphosa's private game farm. The Court also declared a previous parliamentary vote to halt impeachment invalid, paving the way for a formal inquiry. As a result, Parliament is now compelled to investigate the allegations, marking a critical moment for South Africa's democracy and political stability.