South Africa’s Constitutional Court on Friday nullified a parliamentary vote that had blocked the initiation of impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa in connection with a cash‑heist scandal.
The court ruled that the National Assembly’s decision, taken on 13 December 2022, was “inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid, and… set aside,” according to Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. The judgment came after a complaint filed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a left‑wing opposition party.
The original parliamentary vote had rejected a report from an inquiry panel which concluded that the president may have committed misconduct. At the time, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) held a majority in the assembly and dismissed the panel’s findings. The public prosecutor later dropped the charges in 2024.
The case centres on roughly US$500,000 in cash that Ramaphosa said was stolen from his cattle and game farm in 2020. According to the president, the money was payment for buffalo purchased by a Sudanese businessman. Critics allege that Ramaphosa failed to report the theft to police, abused his office and created a conflict of interest by not disclosing the incident.
In June 2022, former head of intelligence Arthur Fraser accused the president of arranging for the alleged thieves to be kidnapped and bribed to remain silent, adding further controversy to the matter.
The Constitutional Court’s decision reopens the possibility of parliamentary scrutiny over the incident. While impeachment remains a political process requiring a two‑thirds majority in the National Assembly, the ruling underscores the judiciary’s willingness to intervene when procedural or constitutional breaches are identified. Observers note that the outcome may influence future oversight of executive conduct and shape the dynamics between South Africa’s courts, legislature, and the presidency.
