South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has refused to step down after the country’s Constitutional Court revived impeachment proceedings linked to the controversial Phala Phala cash scandal.
The scandal, popularly known in South Africa as the “cash-in-sofa” or “Farmgate” saga, dates back to 2020 when thieves allegedly stole more than $580,000 hidden inside couches at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo province.
The money was reportedly linked to the sale of buffaloes to a Sudanese businessman, although critics questioned why such a large amount of foreign cash was allegedly kept hidden at a private property instead of being declared through official banking systems.
Last week, South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that parliament acted unconstitutionally when it blocked impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa in 2022, reopening one of the biggest political controversies of his presidency.
The ruling has now forced parliament to revive the impeachment process and establish a committee to investigate whether Ramaphosa committed serious misconduct or violated the constitution.
Speaking in a televised national address Monday night, Ramaphosa strongly rejected calls for his resignation.
“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said.
“To do so would be to preempt a process defined by the Constitution.”
The South African leader also insisted the Constitutional Court ruling did not declare him guilty of wrongdoing.
“The Constitutional Court made no finding of any kind regarding my alleged conduct,” he said.
“The court made no finding on whether there was prima facie evidence of misconduct.”
Ramaphosa announced he would challenge the independent parliamentary report that initially recommended impeachment proceedings, arguing that the findings against him were flawed and based partly on unverified claims.
The scandal has severely damaged the anti-corruption image Ramaphosa built when he took power in 2018, promising to clean up South African politics after the corruption-filled era of former president Jacob Zuma.
Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters and allies of Zuma, have intensified demands for Ramaphosa to resign or face removal from office.
However, analysts believe Ramaphosa still has a strong chance of surviving impeachment because his African National Congress party and coalition partners still hold enough parliamentary support to block a two-thirds majority vote needed to remove him.
Some citizens argue Ramaphosa should fully answer questions about the hidden cash regardless of his political standing, while others fear his removal could destabilize the country’s fragile coalition government.
The renewed scandal arrives at a politically sensitive time for South Africa as the ANC struggles with declining public support, economic frustration, electricity shortages, and rising unemployment ahead of the upcoming local elections.
