A South African court has ordered an immediate halt to impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, granting his request to pause the process while he challenges a report linked to the Phala Phala cash‑theft scandal. Please confirm details with trusted sources.
The Western Cape High Court ruled Friday that parliament must suspend its impeachment committee’s work until Ramaphosa’s legal review is concluded. The committee had been preparing to examine a 2022 report that said the president “may have committed” serious violations after $580,000 in foreign currency was allegedly stolen from a sofa at his ranch.
Judge Andre le Grange said lawmakers are barred from moving forward with any public impeachment hearing until the court decides whether the report should stand. The ruling temporarily shields Ramaphosa from a politically charged process that has lingered for years.
The case stems from a 2020 break in at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm, where thieves allegedly took a stash of foreign currency. Ramaphosa insists the money came from the sale of 20 buffaloes and says he reported the burglary to police.
The scandal resurfaced after a former intelligence chief and ally of ex‑president Jacob Zuma accused Ramaphosa of hiding a robbery involving far more money a claim the president rejects. The allegations have deepened divisions within the ruling African National Congress and intensified scrutiny of Ramaphosa’s leadership.
The court’s decision is expected to slow momentum around the impeachment effort, giving Ramaphosa time to pursue his legal challenge and potentially reshape the narrative around the case.
Political analysts say the ruling could ease immediate pressure on the president but note that the controversy continues to fuel debate over transparency and accountability in South Africa’s government.
As the legal battle continues, the impeachment process remains frozen, leaving parliament and the presidency in a tense holding pattern.
