CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South African lawmakers announced Monday they will form an impeachment committee to examine four-year-old accusations that President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in serious misconduct by concealing the robbery of more than $580,000 in cash that was hidden in furniture at his wildlife ranch.
The announcement comes after the nation’s highest court ruled Friday that Parliament’s 2022 decision to halt impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa violated constitutional procedures.
During that earlier vote, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress held a parliamentary majority. Lawmakers voted to stop the proceedings despite an independent investigation that found evidence suggesting the president failed to properly notify police about the theft and attempted to secretly conduct his own recovery efforts.
Last week’s Constitutional Court decision stated that proper procedure required the 2022 independent investigation to be sent to an impeachment committee for additional review.
Removing the leader of Africa’s largest economy would need backing from at least two-thirds of the 400 Parliament members, as outlined in the Constitution.
The multi-party impeachment panel must complete its investigation before any impeachment vote can occur. Monday’s parliamentary announcement did not specify a timeline for this process.
Following a historic 2024 election, Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its parliamentary majority and now leads a coalition government comprising 10 parties. He could still survive impeachment if his party members support him.
The controversy severely tarnished the image of a president who assumed office in 2018 promising to fight corruption after ten years of government scandals under previous leader Jacob Zuma.
The accusations first surfaced when a former state security agency director visited a police station in 2022, alleging the president committed money laundering and other crimes related to the stolen funds. It later became known that the 2020 theft had been kept hidden.
Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence, explaining the U.S. currency came from legitimate buffalo sales at his ranch. Questions persisted about the money’s origin and why it was concealed in a sofa.
The 2022 independent investigation concluded there was “legitimate doubt” about the money’s source, with some evidence suggesting the amount exceeded Ramaphosa’s claimed $580,000. The report also found that Ramaphosa used his presidential security chief and others to “surreptitiously” pursue the theft suspects.
“President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favor or prejudice,” his office stated Friday after the court ruling that revived the scandal.
