Breaking News: Pres. Ramaphosa Impeached Protection Removed By Parliament

Parliament has been ordered to begin an impeachment inquiry against President Cyril Ramaphosa.This, after the Constitutional Court ruled that it acted irrationally by not adopting a report that found he may have violated his oath of office regarding his actions in response to the burglary at his Phala Phala farm.

The Section 89 report, which was tabled before Parliament in December 2022, found Ramaphosa may have violated his oath of office and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

However, the report was not adopted by Parliament, with the African National Congress (ANC) using its majority in the house to vote against it.

The Constitutional Court said the vote was unconstitutional and has set it aside.

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya handed down the ruling.

“It is declared that the vote of the National Assembly taken on 13 December 2022, declining to refer the report to the independent panel to an impeachment committee as envisaged in the NA [National Assembly] rules, is inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid and it is set aside. The report of the independent panel is referred to the impeachment committee established in terms of the NA rules…”

Meanwhile, a small group of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters celebrated outside the Constitutional Court following its ruling.The case was brought by the EFF and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), arguing that Parliament failed to hold the president accountable after a Section 89 panel found that he may have breached his oath of office.

EFF supporters picketed outside the Constitutional Court as it handed down a judgment on the party’s court action on Parliament’s handling of the Phala Phala scandal.

The supporters broke out in song and chants after the landmark ruling.

The party had set up a large jumbo screen and a stage outside the apex court, where its leaders were expected to address supporters shortly.

In November 2024, the EFF argued that its preferred outcome was for the apex court to refer the matter back to Parliament.