A South African court has blocked Parliament from proceeding with the impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa over the so‑called ‘Farmgate’ scandal. The decision, made by the Western Cape High Court judge Andre le Grange, says the committee must wait until the president’s own case against the panel’s findings is decided, effectively giving the president a breathing spell.
The controversy began in 2020 when burglars stole at least $580,000 (about £430,000) in U.S. dollars from a sofa on Ramaphosa’s private farm in Phala Phala, Limpopo. An independent panel later suggested the president might face charges for hiding the theft, though he has denied any wrongdoing and blamed the cash on sales of buffaloes. A 2022 report fed the inquiry, which Parliament had refused to take up, prompting a Constitutional Court ruling that the dismissal of the report was unlawful.
Ramaphosa is now set to challenge the panel in September, arguing it misjudged the facts and the charges advanced against him. The ruling also shuffles the political landscape: the ANC no longer holds a majority and now governs with a coalition since the 2024 election. Critics say the court’s move might delay accountability, while supporters say it protects the president from an unsubstantiated probe.
Reactions are mixed. The Democratic Alliance called the halt ‘not unexpected’ but said the committee could continue preparatory work. The opposition party led by former President Jacob Zuma called the ruling “court‑hastening” and urged Congress to recover the facts. In a press statement, the president said he respected the court’s decision and remains ready to prove his innocence.
