South African President Files Court Challenge to Parliamentary Report

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa filed a legal challenge on Tuesday at the High Court in Cape Town against a parliamentary report that could lead to impeachment proceedings. The report was commissioned by parliament after a 2022 independent panel concluded that Ramaphosa might have committed serious misconduct.

The panel examined allegations that $580,000 had been stolen from Phala Phala farm in Limpopo province in 2020.

The charges included violating the constitution and serious misconduct. The president said he did not make the application lightly and asked the court to set aside the report, which would end the current impeachment process.

The Speaker of parliament has already formed an impeachment committee of 31 MPs from 16 parties. The committee includes nine members from the African National Congress, which governs as part of a coalition after losing its majority in the 2024 election.

The committee will determine whether grounds exist to begin formal impeachment proceedings. South Africa maintains rules requiring foreign currency to be deposited with an authorized dealer within 30 days. Ramaphosa previously stated that the cash originated from the sale of buffalo from his farming business.