South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that Parliament acted unconstitutionally by blocking efforts to launch impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022.
The decision came after a legal challenge filed by opposition parties, who argued that lawmakers had unfairly blocked the process of investigating serious allegations against the head of state.
At the center of the case was a panel of legal experts who had previously found that there could potentially be a case to answer following a controversial burglary at Ramaphosa's rural farm, where more than $500,000 in cash was allegedly stolen and hidden inside a sofa.
The incident sparked public scrutiny and questions over the source of the money and whether it was properly declared.
President Ramaphosa denied any wrongdoing and said he had acted within the law.
Despite the controversy, impeachment proceedings were halted after a parliamentary vote in which his party, the African National Congress (ANC), had a majority in Parliament. That majority has been lost in subsequent elections.
The Court's decision now opens the door to fresh parliamentary consideration of the impeachment process, reinforcing the constitutional requirement that such proceedings not be politically disrupted once they have properly commenced.
This decision is seen as an important decision on the limits of parliamentary authority and the separation of powers in South Africa's democratic system.