South African Court Orders Revival of Impeachment Inquiry Against President

South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that parliament acted unlawfully by blocking an impeachment inquiry into the president in December 2022. The court ordered lawmakers to restart the process, referring an independent panel's findings to an impeachment committee for full review.

The decision marks the first time in post-apartheid history that a sitting president will face a formal inquiry of this scale. The ruling stems from the 2020 theft of approximately $580,000 in foreign currency hidden in furniture at the president's Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo province.

The money was never reported to police through standard channels, leading to allegations of a cover-up, money laundering and misuse of security personnel to recover it. Three people are currently on trial for the theft. An independent panel led by a retired judge later found evidence that the president may have violated the constitution.

Parliament, then controlled by a majority of the African National Congress, voted 214 to 148 to halt further proceedings. The Constitutional Court invalidated that vote, struck down the underlying parliamentary rule on impeachment procedures and replaced it with one that limits lawmakers' discretion to stop such inquiries.

Opposition parties that brought the case welcomed the judgment. One leader called for the president to resign immediately to focus on the proceedings, citing serious implications for his ability to govern. The party has demanded that the speaker of parliament provide clear timelines within 48 hours for forming the impeachment committee.

The president's office said it respects the ruling and that no person is above the law. Officials added that the president has consistently provided full assistance to all inquiries and maintains that the cash came from the legitimate sale of cattle.

The African National Congress, which now governs in a multiparty coalition after losing its outright majority in the 2024 election, said the decision would be discussed internally and that the party would ensure the process is handled correctly. The Democratic Alliance, the second-largest coalition partner, stated that it would not shield wrongdoing and that the impeachment committee must conduct its work fairly and constitutionally.

A two-thirds majority in the National Assembly is required to remove the president. Even if the committee recommends impeachment, the African National Congress retains enough seats to likely block removal, though political pressure could mount for an alternative resolution such as a managed exit.

The Economic Freedom Fighters and uMkhonto weSizwe Party have indicated they will push for removal, meaning the Democratic Alliance's position will prove decisive. Market reaction remained muted, with the rand currency showing little immediate change after the judgment.

The matter, known locally as Farmgate, surfaced publicly in 2022 when a former intelligence chief filed a criminal complaint. He alleged the president sought to conceal the theft to avoid explaining why such a large sum of foreign currency was stored at a private property rather than deposited with an authorised bank within the required 30 days.

The president has denied any wrongdoing throughout. The court also invalidated a parliamentary rule that had given lawmakers broad discretion to halt impeachment processes. In its place, the judgment requires that any independent panel findings recommending further scrutiny must proceed to the impeachment committee for evidence review and a determination on whether grounds exist to remove the president.

" — Constitutional Court, May 8 2026 (Al Jazeera) The impeachment committee is expected to take several months to complete its work. The ruling injects uncertainty into the coalition government as it grapples with anemic economic growth and questions over adherence to the rule of law.