CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Two opposition political factions in South Africa have petitioned the nation’s highest court to reinstate impeachment processes against President Cyril Ramaphosa due to a scandal involving a significant sum of cash that was concealed in a couch at his ranch, which subsequently was stolen.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) are urging the Constitutional Court to overturn a December 2022 parliamentary vote that spared Ramaphosa from facing impeachment discussions.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) leveraged its majority in Parliament to prevent an impeachment vote from proceeding. However, the opposition groups argue that Parliament failed in its constitutional responsibility to hold the president accountable following a preliminary inquiry that indicated possible misconduct by Ramaphosa and suggested a comprehensive investigation.
The opposition is calling for a thorough investigation led by Parliament. Although Ramaphosa has been exonerated by financial regulators, a public oversight body, and law enforcement following a lengthy two-year criminal investigation, the issue has cast a shadow over his political career.
The situation escalated after the revelation in June 2022 that approximately $580,000 in cash was taken from a couch at Ramaphosa’s game farm. The theft, which occurred in early 2020, only came to public attention two years later.
Allegations against Ramaphosa include money laundering, violations of foreign currency regulations, and attempts to conceal the theft. He maintains that the funds were obtained from the legitimate sale of animals on his property but has yet to clarify why such a large amount of cash was hidden in a couch.
These questions were reiterated by the opposition during the recent court proceedings. “There needs to be an explanation,” stated Anton Katz, the legal representative for the ATM.
In a shift of political dynamics, Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the elections held in May. Should impeachment hearings be reinitiated, it would present a significant challenge for the leader of Africa’s most developed nation, particularly after he was reelected for a second term in June with the help of coalition allies. Nonetheless, with both the EFF and ATM being relatively minor parties, they would require backing from other coalition members aligned with the ANC government for any potential impeachment movement, which appears unlikely.
The Constitutional Court is known for its lengthy deliberation processes, with rulings often taking several weeks or even months to be issued.