Ramaphosa Rejects Resignation Calls After Court Ruling on Impeachment Process

(MENAFN) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that he will remain in office despite growing political pressure and calls for his resignation following a Constitutional Court ruling related to a stalled impeachment process, according to reports.

In a televised address, Ramaphosa said the recent court decision does not require him to step down, emphasizing that he intends to continue fulfilling his presidential duties. He stressed that he will not resign in response to political demands, arguing that the judgment does not compel such an action.

The controversy stems from findings by an independent parliamentary panel in 2022, which suggested that the president may have been implicated in serious misconduct linked to a theft incident at his private farm. The case relates to a 2020 burglary in which a large sum of cash was reportedly stolen from a sofa at his rural property. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and said the money originated from legal business transactions involving game sales.

Critics have raised questions about the source of the funds and alleged possible financial impropriety, while the president has consistently rejected accusations of criminal conduct.

Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that parliament acted unlawfully when it previously rejected the panel’s findings. The court stated that the report should be forwarded to an impeachment committee unless it is successfully challenged through legal review.

Despite the ruling, Ramaphosa announced that his administration will seek a judicial review of the panel’s findings in an effort to prevent the matter from advancing to formal impeachment proceedings in parliament.

The decision has intensified political debate in South Africa, highlighting tensions between the executive branch, parliament, and the judiciary over accountability procedures and constitutional interpretation.

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