South Africa’s parliament is scheduled to hold the first meeting of an impeachment committee next week to investigate allegations related to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “Farmgate” scandal. The development follows the revival of the impeachment process by the Constitutional Court earlier this month, after legal setbacks. The scandal centers on accusations concerning cash that was allegedly stolen from a sofa at Ramaphosa’s farm in 2020, raising questions about the money’s source and how it was concealed.
The committee will include 31 members. Its initial step is expected to be the election of a chairperson. The Democratic Alliance (DA), a major opposition party in Ramaphosa’s coalition government, says it will hold the president accountable if findings show wrongdoing and argues that the chair should not come from the African National Congress (ANC).
Ramaphosa denies wrongdoing and is challenging an independent panel report in court that found preliminary evidence of misconduct. Some legal analysts cited in reporting say his court challenge could delay proceedings. Ramaphosa has also indicated he may seek an urgent court order to halt impeachment efforts while the legal challenge is ongoing. The ANC’s seat share in the National Assembly means it can block any impeachment vote, which would require a two-thirds majority.
