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Ramaphosa Vows Judicial Review of Panel Report on Farm Scandal

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to seek judicial review of an Independent Panel report that suggests he may have violated the constitution. The announcement follows a Constitutional Court ruling requiring Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings over the Phala Phala scandal. Ramaphosa maintains his innocence, arguing the court made no direct finding of guilt and that resigning would preempt proper process. He has pledged full cooperation while challenging the report's legal accuracy.

Key Points: Ramaphosa Challenges Panel Report Over Cash Scandal

  • Ramaphosa seeks judicial review of Independent Panel report
  • Constitutional Court mandates impeachment process
  • Cash scandal involves $580,000 found at private farm
  • President denies wrongdoing, pledges cooperation
2 min read

South African President vows to take investigation report about him for judicial review

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces judicial review of Independent Panel's findings on Phala Phala farm scandal, citing legal inaccuracies.

"I do so not out of disrespect for Parliament or its processes, but to affirm the need for such findings to be correct in law and in fact. - Cyril Ramaphosa"

Johannesburg, May 11

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his intention to take an Independent Panel report that suggests he may have violated the constitution for judicial review.

Addressing the nation Monday night, following a landmark Constitutional Court ruling the previous Friday, Ramaphosa responded to the court's directive that Parliament must initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

This long-standing legal battle stems from the so-called "Phala Phala" scandal, where 580,000 US dollars in cash was discovered at his private farm in February 2020, Xinhua news agency reported.

An Independent Panel, established by Parliament, previously found evidence that the president may have breached the constitution.

While Ramaphosa maintains that he did not steal public funds or commit any crime, he has pledged full cooperation with the relevant institutions.

"On the basis of advice from my legal team and as envisaged by the Constitutional Court... I have therefore decided to proceed to take the independent panel's report on review on an expeditious basis," said Ramaphosa in the national address.

"I do so not out of disrespect for Parliament or its processes, but to affirm the need for such findings to be correct in law and in fact," he added.

The president clarified that while he had initially intended to seek a review sooner, he had deferred it after a parliamentary majority voted against his impeachment, a move the Constitutional Court has now deemed incorrect, ruling that the report must instead be referred to an impeachment committee.

Despite calls from opposition parties for his immediate resignation, Ramaphosa remains firm, arguing that the court made no direct finding of guilt against him and that resigning now would preempt a constitutionally defined process.

He concluded by pledging to continue his administration's work in fighting crime and strengthening state institutions.

House Speaker Thoko Didiza has confirmed that Parliament will comply with the court's judgment.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
I have mixed feelings. On one hand, everyone must get a fair chance, but on the other, this is a lot of money involved -- $580,000 is huge by Indian standards too. The way he handled the address made it clear he's not going down without a fight. वैसे भी, politicians everywhere seem to have thick skins when it comes to accountability. 🤔
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James A
Ramaphosa's argument that the court made no direct finding of guilt is a valid legal point. But politically, this creates a lot of instability for South Africa. They have so many other challenges - crime, unemployment, energy crisis. This Phala Phala saga is becoming a major distraction. In India, we know how such controversies can drag on for years.
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Karthik V
The thing that caught my attention is that the Parliament majority tried to block his impeachment, and the court overruled them. That's a strong check on legislative power. Reminds me of the Indian Supreme Court's interventions sometimes. But I worry about the precedent - if every investigation can be challenged in court, it might delay accountability forever. A balanced approach is needed. 🙏
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Emma D
I hope South Africa's institutions remain strong through this. It's easy for such cases to become political footballs. From what I've read, Ramaphosa was seen as a reformer, but this scandal is tarnishing that image. The opposition calling for his resignation is understandable given the circumstances. Time will tell if the judicial review helps clear the air or just prolongs the uncertainty.
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Raghav A
As an Indian watching this unfold, I

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