Da Dona
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- Dec 16, 2025
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South African opposition leader Julius Malema has called for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa after the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament acted unconstitutionally when it blocked impeachment proceedings against him in 2022.
📸: President Cyril Ramaphosa, Image Courtesy of BBC
The ruling followed a legal challenge filed by Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party and other groups. The court’s decision could reopen impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa over the controversial “Phala Phala” scandal, in which burglars allegedly stole about $580,000 hidden inside furniture at the president’s rural farm in 2020.
At the time, an independent panel found that Ramaphosa might have a case to answer regarding the source of the money and whether proper procedures had been followed. However, impeachment efforts were blocked in Parliament when the ruling African National Congress (ANC) still held a majority.
Speaking outside the court in Johannesburg, Malema said the president should step down and focus on defending himself during the impeachment process, arguing that the matter carries serious implications for Ramaphosa personally and politically.
In response, Ramaphosa’s office said the president respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment and remains committed to the rule of law and judicial independence. The presidency maintained that Ramaphosa has cooperated with all investigations and believes no one is above the law.
The ANC also welcomed the ruling, saying it demonstrates the strength and independence of South Africa’s democratic institutions. The case now raises fresh political pressure on Ramaphosa, whose party has been governing through a coalition since losing its outright parliamentary majority after the 2024 elections.
Source: Nilepost News
The ruling followed a legal challenge filed by Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party and other groups. The court’s decision could reopen impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa over the controversial “Phala Phala” scandal, in which burglars allegedly stole about $580,000 hidden inside furniture at the president’s rural farm in 2020.
At the time, an independent panel found that Ramaphosa might have a case to answer regarding the source of the money and whether proper procedures had been followed. However, impeachment efforts were blocked in Parliament when the ruling African National Congress (ANC) still held a majority.
Speaking outside the court in Johannesburg, Malema said the president should step down and focus on defending himself during the impeachment process, arguing that the matter carries serious implications for Ramaphosa personally and politically.
In response, Ramaphosa’s office said the president respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment and remains committed to the rule of law and judicial independence. The presidency maintained that Ramaphosa has cooperated with all investigations and believes no one is above the law.
The ANC also welcomed the ruling, saying it demonstrates the strength and independence of South Africa’s democratic institutions. The case now raises fresh political pressure on Ramaphosa, whose party has been governing through a coalition since losing its outright parliamentary majority after the 2024 elections.
Source: Nilepost News
