Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign immediately and called for impeachment proceedings to commence. The EFF, together with other opposition parties, has taken the matter to the courts, alleging that African National Congress (ANC) MPs used their parliamentary majority to shield the president from accountability over a cash‑theft scandal.
Ramaphosa has denied any misconduct, stating that the R2 million recovered from a couch at his personal residence was proceeds from the sale of buffaloes on his farm. He said the incident was reported to his security chief, but a parliamentary inquiry that examined the case rejected his explanation and recommended that an impeachment committee conduct a full investigation.
The controversy, which has lingered since the cash was reported missing in 2022, has become a focal point for opposition criticism. Despite surviving a parliamentary motion of no‑confidence, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections – the first time the party has been out of power since its 1994 victory. Ramaphosa is now serving his final term as president.
In addition to the cash‑theft allegations, Ramaphosa faces accusations of tax evasion, money laundering and breaches of currency regulations, with questions raised about why funds from a legitimate business would be concealed in household furniture. However, two earlier investigations – one by the South African Reserve Bank and another by a public watchdog – cleared him of wrongdoing.
On Friday, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the president has consistently cooperated with all inquiries and will continue to do so. “President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice,” the spokesperson said.
The next step appears to be the formation of an impeachment committee, as recommended by the parliamentary inquiry. The outcome of that process will determine whether the president’s legal challenges end with formal exoneration or lead to further political repercussions for the ANC and South Africa’s governance.
