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Supporters of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gathered outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, November 26, to watch live proceedings on a big screen as opposition parties pushed to revive impeachment efforts against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The case stems from the 2022 Phala Phala scandal, where over half a million dollars in cash, hidden at Ramaphosa’s private farm, was stolen and kept secret for years. Critics accuse the president of abusing his power and failing to account for the origins of the money.
EFF Demands Accountability
EFF leader Julius Malema addressed the crowd, accusing the ruling ANC of shielding Ramaphosa from scrutiny. “The ANC came to court to defend corruption, to defend a man who didn’t dispute there was money on his farm,” Malema said.
“We are here to hold the executive accountable. Comrades, we are going to win this case against Ramaphosa. We’ll call him back to parliament and restart the impeachment process because the ANC used its majority in an unconstitutional manner.”
EFF supporters echoed these sentiments. Thebe, a party member at the gathering, said:
“All we want is for the president not to abuse his power the way (former President Zuma did). We want Ramaphosa to explain where the money at Phala came from. The ANC always uses its majority in parliament to protect each other.”
The Push for Impeachment
The EFF and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) have argued that parliament failed in its constitutional duty to hold Ramaphosa accountable, calling for a full parliamentary investigation into the scandal.
In December 2022, a vote in parliament, where the ANC holds a majority, blocked impeachment proceedings against the president. Ramaphosa has since been cleared of wrongdoing by financial authorities, a public watchdog, and the police following a criminal investigation.
However, opposition parties contend that the process was incomplete and biased, and they hope the Constitutional Court will rule in their favor to revive impeachment hearings.
Political Stakes
A revived impeachment process could pose risks for Ramaphosa, who secured a second term as president in June 2023 with the support of ANC coalition partners. However, with the EFF and ATM being relatively small parties, they would need significant backing from other coalition members to succeed in impeaching the president—a scenario analysts view as unlikely.
The Constitutional Court typically takes weeks or months to deliver its rulings, leaving the country in suspense over the potential fallout from the case.
Broader Implications
The Phala Phala scandal continues to resonate in South Africa’s political landscape, with opposition parties seizing on it as a symbol of alleged ANC corruption. As the nation waits for the court’s decision, the case underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling party and its critics, who demand greater transparency and accountability at the highest levels of government.
