The ‘Farmgate’ scandal practically value President Cyril Ramaphosa the management of his African Nationwide Congress in 2022.
Printed On 24 Jul 2026
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has received a court docket problem quickly halting a parliamentary impeachment course of over misconduct allegations linked to the “Farmgate” scandal.
The Western Cape Excessive Courtroom granted Ramaphosa an “interim interdict” that quickly prevents the impeachment committee from continuing with public hearings whereas the president challenges the legality of a 2022 report that discovered he “might have dedicated” critical violations and misconduct.
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“Pending the dedication by this court docket of the applicant’s evaluation … respondents are interdicted from continuing with a public impeachment listening to,” Decide Andre le Grange introduced on Friday.
“Farmgate”, a scandal involving half one million {dollars} stashed in a settee at Ramaphosa’s ranch, practically value the president the management of his African Nationwide Congress (ANC) in late 2022. In the meantime, allegations of corruption inside the get together contributed to the ANC shedding its majority in an election in Might 2024, probably the most carefully contested vote in South Africa‘s democracy.
Ramaphosa has all the time denied any wrongdoing and dominated out resigning over the incident because the allegedly undeclared stash of overseas forex got here to gentle after it was reported stolen in 2020.
The president stated the $580,000 that was hidden at his luxurious Phala Phala farmhouse within the northern Limpopo province was proceeds from the sale of buffaloes. However the episode has been a serious embarrassment, elevating questions on why he had a lot cash stuffed in furnishings.
Friday’s ruling is a lift for Ramaphosa as he additionally awaits the end result of a separate court docket case difficult an impartial panel’s findings that he might have a case to reply over the scandal.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated the president respects the ruling.
“[He] reaffirms his respect of judicial independence and separation of powers enshrined in our Structure,” Magwenya stated in an announcement. “The president will proceed to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability.”
Political analysts anticipate Ramaphosa to stay in energy, even when the impeachment course of does get off the bottom and in the end results in a vote on whether or not he must be faraway from workplace.
Ramaphosa nonetheless enjoys the backing of his ANC get together, the nation’s largest, which leads a coalition authorities. The ANC holds about 40 p.c of seats within the Nationwide Meeting. It’s not clear how all of the ANC’s coalition companions would vote within the impeachment course of.
