South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed calls for him to leave office after the Constitutional Court of South Africa revived investigations into the controversial theft case that has overshadowed his administration since 2020.
During a televised speech on Monday, Ramaphosa said he intends to challenge the report criticising the way he dealt with the matter, insisting that the findings were deeply flawed and did not justify demands for his resignation.
“I will not resign,” he declared in the national address on Monday.
“Resigning would mean accepting a panel report that contains serious shortcomings.”
He explained that although he respected last week’s Constitutional Court ruling that revived the impeachment proceedings against him, he would defend himself against the allegations, according to Reuters.
Ramaphosa further stated that the court’s judgment did not require him to vacate his position, despite increasing pressure from some groups for him to step down.
Earlier reports indicated that the South African leader could once again face political turmoil after the country’s highest court reopened impeachment proceedings connected to the controversial “Farmgate” scandal.
Farmgate scandal and the allegations against Ramaphosa
The controversy began after claims emerged that nearly $4 million had allegedly been hidden at Ramaphosa’s privately owned Phala Phala wildlife farm before it was stolen during a burglary in 2020.
The accusations, initially raised by a former intelligence officer, triggered widespread public criticism and intense political tension across South Africa.
Ramaphosa previously admitted that a robbery had taken place at the farm but rejected claims regarding the amount of money involved.
According to the president, the cash originated from the sale of buffaloes and amounted to about $580,000 rather than the millions alleged by critics.
The South African president has repeatedly denied engaging in any criminal wrongdoing and has not been formally charged with any offence.
Even so, an independent parliamentary panel earlier concluded that there was evidence suggesting Ramaphosa may have breached constitutional responsibilities, paving the way for lawmakers to consider impeachment proceedings.
In a major ruling delivered on Friday, the Constitutional Court found that parliament’s 2022 decision to halt action on the panel’s report was unlawful.
The court subsequently instructed lawmakers to forward the findings to an impeachment committee for further examination after declaring the earlier parliamentary decision invalid.