South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will challenge a report that could trigger impeachment proceedings against him and has ruled out resigning.
Speaking on Monday, Ramaphosa ended days of speculation by stating, “I remain here and am not resigning.”
The case centers on the Phala Phala scandal, where thousands of dollars were stolen from furniture at his game farm in 2020. An independent panel found prima facie evidence of possible misconduct in how Ramaphosa handled the matter.
Last week, South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that parliament acted unconstitutionally in 2022 when it voted against launching an impeachment inquiry. The court said the issue should be examined further through a parliamentary process.
Ramaphosa denies wrongdoing and says the money came from the legitimate sale of buffalo from his farm. He plans to ask the courts to review and set aside the report, arguing it relied on hearsay evidence.
Political analyst Prof. Richard Calland said Ramaphosa would likely survive a parliamentary vote, but the legal challenge may aim to avoid a damaging public hearing that could harm his reputation and legacy.
