Supporters of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gathered outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, November 26, to watch court proceedings on a large screen. The case involves an effort by two opposition parties to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal.
The scandal, which emerged in 2022, centers on the theft of over half a million dollars in cash hidden at one of Ramaphosa’s farms. Critics allege that the money’s origins and the president’s handling of the incident remain questionable. A parliamentary vote, where Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) holds a majority, previously shielded him from impeachment proceedings.
EFF leader Julius Malema addressed the crowd, accusing the ANC of protecting corruption. “We are here to hold the executive accountable. The ANC came to court to defend a man who did not dispute that there was money at his farm,” Malema said. He vowed to push for a renewed parliamentary investigation and impeachment process if the court rules in favor of the opposition.
Similarly, an EFF supporter named Thebe echoed these sentiments. “All we want is for the president not to abuse his power like former President Zuma. We want Ramaphosa to explain where the money found at Phala came from. The ANC always uses its majority in Parliament to protect each other,” Thebe said.
The case, brought by the EFF and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), argues that Parliament failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to hold the president accountable. While financial authorities, a public watchdog, and police cleared Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing, the opposition claims these investigations were insufficient.
Reviving impeachment proceedings could pose a challenge for Ramaphosa, who was re-elected for a second term in June with the support of coalition partners. However, with the EFF and ATM representing smaller parties, any move to impeach the president would require significant backing from other members of the ANC-led coalition, which analysts see as improbable.
The Constitutional Court is expected to take weeks or months to deliver its ruling on the matter.