South Africa Ramaphosa Refuses to Quit as He Faces Fresh Impeachment Battle

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed not to resign despite mounting political pressure and the launch of a new parliamentary impeachment inquiry linked to the long-running “Farmgate” cash scandal.

In a televised national address, Ramaphosa said he would challenge the findings of an independent parliamentary report that accused him of possible misconduct over the theft of large sums of cash hidden inside furniture at his Phala Phala game farm.

“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said, arguing that stepping down would undermine constitutional processes and lend credibility to what he described as a flawed report.

The renewed impeachment push follows a landmark ruling by South Africa’s Constitutional Court, which found that parliament acted improperly in 2022 when it blocked impeachment proceedings against the president. The court ordered lawmakers to revisit the matter through a formal impeachment committee.

The scandal stems from the 2020 theft of more than $580,000 in cash from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala ranch. The money, reportedly hidden in a sofa, was allegedly linked to the sale of buffaloes to a foreign buyer. Opposition parties have accused the president of failing to properly report the theft and attempting to conceal the incident from authorities. Ramaphosa has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, insisting the funds were legally obtained and that he acted within the law.

The controversy has become one of the biggest political crises of Ramaphosa’s presidency and threatens to weaken his reform agenda at a time when South Africa is grappling with economic pressures, high unemployment, and energy instability. Analysts say the impeachment process could take months, with legal challenges likely to delay proceedings further.

Although opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), are demanding Ramaphosa’s resignation, political observers believe he still has enough parliamentary backing to survive impeachment. South Africa’s constitution requires a two-thirds majority in parliament to remove a sitting president from office.

The situation has also intensified pressure within the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections and now governs through a coalition arrangement. The ANC has scheduled emergency meetings to discuss the fallout from the revived scandal and its potential impact on the party ahead of upcoming municipal elections.

Despite the political turmoil, Ramaphosa said he remains committed to cooperating with constitutional processes while fighting the allegations through the courts. The impeachment committee is expected to begin its work in the coming weeks, setting the stage for another major political showdown in South Africa.