South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced he will not resign following a Constitutional Court ruling that opened the door for impeachment proceedings over a scandal involving stolen cash from his private farm. On Monday, Ramaphosa ended days of speculation by stating, "I remain here and am not resigning," adding that he plans to legally challenge the report that triggered the impeachment process.
The controversy, known as the Phala Phala scandal, stems from the theft of thousands of dollars from furniture at his game farm. An independent panel found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious misconduct in handling the matter, though he denies wrongdoing, claiming the money came from a legitimate buffalo sale. The Constitutional Court ruled last week that parliament acted unconstitutionally by voting against an impeachment inquiry in 2022 and ordered further examination.
Ramaphosa now seeks to have the report reviewed and set aside, arguing it relied on hearsay evidence. Political analyst Professor Richard Calland noted the president would likely survive a parliamentary vote, but suggested the legal challenge may aim to avoid a damaging impeachment hearing that could harm his reputation and legacy.