South African Parliament Convenes Impeachment Committee for Ramaphosa Scandal

South Africa’s parliamentary committee, established to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa in connection with the “Farmgate” scandal, is scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting on Monday. The inquiry stems from allegations surrounding a 2020 incident where a significant sum of cash was stolen from a sofa at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm, sparking questions about the source of the funds and their undeclared status.

This development marks a crucial step in the impeachment proceedings, which were previously revitalized by a Constitutional Court decision this month. The scandal has cast a shadow over Ramaphosa’s presidency, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The committee, comprising 31 members, will initially focus on electing a chairperson. George Michalakis, parliamentary leader for the Democratic Alliance (DA), stated that his party believes the chairperson should not be affiliated with Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC). The DA, while part of the ruling coalition, has maintained a critical stance, vowing to hold the president accountable.

However, the path to impeachment remains complex. President Ramaphosa has initiated legal action challenging an independent panel’s report that identified preliminary evidence of misconduct. His legal team has also indicated a potential bid for an urgent court order to halt impeachment proceedings while his challenge is ongoing.

Despite the ANC’s overall majority in the National Assembly, which would typically shield the president from impeachment (requiring a two-thirds majority), the party holds a minority of seats on the impeachment committee itself, with only 9 out of the 31 members. The ANC’s national leadership has publicly expressed its full support for President Ramaphosa.

This represents the next stage in the impeachment process against Ramaphosa that was revived by the Constitutional Court this month, in a setback for the leader for whom the affair has been a major embarrassment during his presidency.