President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will not resign following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Parliament’s handling of the controversial Phala Phala report, insisting instead that he will challenge the findings of the independent panel that initially recommended further parliamentary scrutiny.
The apex court on Friday ruled that the National Assembly acted unlawfully when it voted against adopting the Section 89 independent panel report in December 2022. The judgment effectively reopens the possibility of impeachment proceedings against the President.
The Phala Phala matter stems from the 2020 theft of a large sum of foreign currency hidden at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo. Allegations surrounding the incident — including claims of money laundering, kidnapping and attempts to conceal the theft — sparked widespread political controversy and calls for accountability.
In response, Parliament established an independent panel led by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo to determine whether there was prima facie evidence that the President may have committed serious violations of the Constitution or the law. The panel found there was enough evidence to warrant a full parliamentary impeachment inquiry.
However, the ANC used its majority in Parliament to vote against adopting the report, effectively halting the impeachment process at the time. Opposition parties challenged that decision in court, arguing Parliament had failed to properly fulfil its constitutional obligations.
Delivering judgment on Friday, the Constitutional Court found the National Assembly’s decision-making process to be inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid. The ruling now paves the way for Parliament to reconsider the matter.
In a statement following the judgment, Ramaphosa said he would seek a judicial review of the independent panel’s findings “on an expeditious basis”.
“I do so not out of disrespect for Parliament or its processes, but to affirm the need for such findings to be correct in law and in fact, especially where Parliament’s work would be based on and informed by a report I believe is flawed,” the President said.
Ramaphosa stressed that the Constitutional Court had not made any findings against him personally.
“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, nor if the alleged conduct, if established, justifies impeachment and the removal of the President.”
The President also rejected growing calls from opposition parties and some civil society groups for him to step down.
“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said.
“To do so would be to pre-empt a process defined by the Constitution.”
He argued that resigning at this stage would amount to legitimising what he described as a flawed panel report and would undermine ongoing efforts to rebuild state institutions and combat corruption.
“To resign now would be to give in to those who seek to reverse the renewal of our society, the rebuilding of our institutions and the prosecution of corruption,” he added.
Ramaphosa said he remains committed to serving the country and advancing the interests of South Africans while the legal and parliamentary processes continue.
