A South African court has granted President Cyril Ramaphosa a temporary reprieve in the ongoing “Farmgate” scandal, ordering a halt to a parliamentary impeachment inquiry until a separate legal challenge is resolved.
The controversy stems from a 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s private Phala Phala farm, where thieves stole at least $580,000 in cash hidden in a sofa. Details of the theft emerged two years later when former spy chief Arthur Fraser accused the president of concealing the crime from police and tax authorities. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, insisting the cash came from the sale of buffaloes.
In 2022, an independent panel found Ramaphosa might have a case to answer, but parliament initially voted against launching an impeachment inquiry. However, in May 2026, South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that parliament had acted unlawfully by shelving the panel’s report, paving the way for the impeachment process to be revived. The political landscape has since shifted, with Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) now governing in coalition after losing its majority in the 2024 election.
Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling, President Ramaphosa challenged the panel’s findings, arguing they were based on misjudged information and a misinterpretation of the charges. On Friday, Western Cape High Court Judge Andre le Grange ruled that the parliamentary committee must pause its hearings “pending the determination by this court of the applicant’s review.” Two out of three judges supported Ramaphosa’s request, effectively buying the president more time to clear his name.
Ramaphosa’s legal team argued that allowing the impeachment process to continue before his case was heard could cause him irreparable reputational harm. In response to the ruling, Ramaphosa stated that he “respects” the court’s decision.
Reactions to the ruling have been mixed. The Democratic Alliance, a key coalition partner, said the outcome was expected but does not prevent the committee from preparatory work. The opposition uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by Jacob Zuma, accused Ramaphosa of using the courts to delay accountability, while the ANC welcomed the decision and called for restraint from political opponents as the legal process unfolds.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com