South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that he will not resign following renewed pressure over the controversial Phala Phala scandal. Instead, the president says he plans to challenge the Section 89 independent panel report in court after the Constitutional Court revived the impeachment process linked to the matter.
The Phala Phala scandal dates back to the 2020 theft of a large amount of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s private game farm in Limpopo. Questions around the origin of the money and how the matter was handled have followed the president for years. Ramaphosa has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and insists the money came from the sale of buffalo at the farm.
Speaking publicly after the Constitutional Court judgment, Ramaphosa said resigning would undermine the country’s constitutional processes. He argued that the Section 89 report was flawed and based on unreliable findings. The president confirmed that his legal team had advised him to take the matter on judicial review in an attempt to challenge the report before an impeachment committee is established in Parliament.
The Constitutional Court recently ruled that Parliament acted unlawfully in 2022 when lawmakers voted against proceeding with an impeachment inquiry into the scandal. The ruling effectively reopened the issue and placed pressure on Parliament to reconsider the matter.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has already begun the process of establishing an impeachment committee following the judgment. Opposition parties and political organisations have since reacted strongly to Ramaphosa’s refusal to step aside.
The Democratic Alliance said while Ramaphosa has the right to approach the courts, his legal challenge should not delay Parliament from carrying out its constitutional duties. The party urged lawmakers to handle the matter transparently and quickly.
ActionSA also criticised the president, saying legal action should not be used as protection from political accountability. The party stated that South Africans still deserve answers about the millions of rand linked to the scandal and how events unfolded after the burglary at the farm.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters warned Parliament against delaying tactics and called for urgent timelines regarding the impeachment committee. The party accused the ANC of attempting to shield Ramaphosa from accountability once again.
Labour federation South African Federation of Trade Unions said although Ramaphosa has the constitutional right to challenge the findings in court, the president should have resigned in the interest of accountability and public trust.
Despite growing pressure from opposition parties and civil society groups, Ramaphosa remains firm that he will continue serving as president while fighting the matter in court. Political analysts believe the impeachment process could take months, especially as the ANC and its coalition partners continue to debate the future of the president ahead of upcoming political battles.
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