South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa refuses to resign as impeachment process looms
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Monday he will not step down despite parliament moving to establish an impeachment commission over a cash scandal. In a televised address, Ramaphosa said he will legally challenge a parliamentary report that found credible evidence of misconduct, a move likely to delay any impeachment proceedings.
His decision came hours after parliament said it would set up a multi-party impeachment commission, following a Constitutional Court ruling last week that a 2022 vote blocking impeachment was unconstitutional. At that time, Ramaphosa’s ANC held a parliamentary majority.
The scandal dates back to 2020, when over $580,000 in cash was stolen from a sofa at Ramaphosa’s game ranch.
An independent report in 2022 raised questions about the money’s origin and why the president allegedly failed to report the theft properly. Ramaphosa denies wrongdoing, stating the cash came from a legal buffalo sale.
Impeachment would require a two-thirds parliamentary majority. No timeline has been set for the commission’s investigation. Opposition parties had called for Ramaphosa’s immediate resignation.
