Ramaphosa Refuses to Resign as South Africa Reopens Impeachment Process

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will not resign over the “Farmgate” scandal and plans to fight impeachment proceedings in court. The case involves the alleged theft of $580,000 from his Phala Phala farm in 2020. South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ordered Parliament to reopen the impeachment process following a complaint by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected calls for his resignation amid renewed impeachment proceedings linked to the controversial “Farmgate” cash theft scandal, insisting that he will challenge the process through the courts rather than step down from office.
In a televised national address on Monday, Ramaphosa said resigning would amount to undermining constitutional procedures and accepting what he described as a flawed parliamentary report. His remarks came only hours after South Africa’s Parliament announced plans to establish an impeachment committee following a ruling by the Constitutional Court ordering lawmakers to revisit the matter.
“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said during the address. He argued that stepping aside at this stage would wrongly lend credibility to a report that he believes contains major legal and factual weaknesses.
The scandal dates back to 2020 when a large amount of foreign currency was reportedly stolen during a break-in at Ramaphosa’s luxury Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo Province. According to allegations, approximately $580,000 in cash was hidden inside furniture, including a sofa, at the property. Ramaphosa has maintained that the money came from the legitimate sale of buffaloes to a foreign buyer.
The matter sparked outrage after former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser accused the president of concealing the robbery from law enforcement and tax authorities. Fraser also alleged that suspects involved in the theft were illegally detained and bribed to keep quiet about the incident. These allegations triggered widespread public debate and intensified political pressure on the president.
In 2022, an independent parliamentary panel appointed to examine the issue concluded that Ramaphosa “may have committed” serious constitutional violations and misconduct. The report raised questions about whether the president had acted in a manner consistent with his office and whether he had properly disclosed the stolen foreign currency.
Despite the panel’s findings, the governing African National Congress (ANC), which still held a parliamentary majority at the time, voted against initiating impeachment proceedings. The party rallied behind Ramaphosa, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to justify removing him from office.
However, the issue returned to the spotlight after the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) challenged Parliament’s decision in court. Last week, South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament had acted improperly when it dismissed the recommendations of the independent panel. The court ordered lawmakers to reopen the matter and establish a formal impeachment committee to investigate the allegations further.
The impeachment committee, which will consist of members from multiple political parties, is expected to conduct hearings, review evidence, and determine whether sufficient grounds exist for Parliament to proceed with a vote to remove the president from office. Parliament has not yet provided a timeline for the investigation or any potential vote.
Under South Africa’s Constitution, removing a president through impeachment requires the support of at least two-thirds of the 400-member National Assembly, making the process politically difficult.
Ramaphosa’s political position has become more complicated following the 2024 elections, where the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. The party now governs through a coalition arrangement known as the Government of National Unity, which includes several smaller political parties.
Although the loss of majority control has weakened the ANC’s dominance, Ramaphosa may still survive impeachment if his party members and coalition partners continue to support him during any parliamentary vote.
The “Farmgate” controversy has continued to damage Ramaphosa’s public image, despite his efforts to present himself as a reformist leader committed to fighting corruption within government. Critics argue that the scandal undermines his anti-corruption stance and raises serious questions about transparency and accountability at the highest level of government.
Supporters of the president, however, insist that the allegations have been politicized by opponents seeking to weaken him ahead of future political battles within South Africa’s fragile coalition government.