JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's highest court has rejected lawmakers' vote to throw out a report that found credible evidence of wrongdoing by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Long running cash scam. The court's decision on Friday could pave the way for impeachment proceedings against him.
Ramaphosa was saved motion to face impeachment Proceedings in 2022, when MPs from his African National Congress party voted to reject a scathing report that recommended a full investigation into why he had $580,000 in cash hid in a sofaWhich he had reported missing in a theft that took place at his Fala Fala Game Farm.
The Constitutional Court's ruling means the report must now be referred to the impeachment committee for a full investigation, which could then decide to vote on whether to impeach Ramaphosa.
Chief Justice Mandisa Maya said, “In the event that the panel (of investigation) concludes that sufficient evidence exists, the case should be referred to the impeachment committee.”
Opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called on Ramaphosa to resign immediately and impeachment proceedings to be initiated against him.
His party was one of the opposition parties that took the matter to court and accused ANC MPs of using their parliamentary majority to shield Ramaphosa from accountability.
“Ramaphosa is going to jail. Given the amount of manipulation and evidence that will come out of the impeachment process, there is no way that Ramaphosa will not go to jail,” Malema told a crowd of supporters after the verdict was announced.
Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the cash was proceeds from the sale of buffaloes on his farm.
He said he had reported the theft to his security chief, but the parliamentary inquiry investigating the incident rejected his version and recommended a full investigation by the impeachment committee.
The long-running scandal has been a political problem for Ramaphosa, with opposition parties calling for his resignation.
He survived the motion while his party still had a parliamentary majority, which it lost. 2024 elections For the first time after coming to power in 1994. He is currently serving his last term as President.
He has also been accused of tax evasion, money laundering and violating currency laws, with questions raised as to why money for a legitimate business would be hidden in a couch.
Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Friday that the President remains engaged in providing his full assistance to the various investigations into this matter and will continue to do so.
“President Ramaphosa believes that no person is above the law and any person accused should be subject to due process without fear, favor or prejudice,” Magwenya said.
Ramaphosa was cleared of wrongdoing in two previous investigations by the Reserve Bank and a public watchdog.