World

South Africa's top court backs case seeking to revive impeachment process against president

JOHANNESBURG, May 8 – South Africa’s constitutional court on Friday backed an opposition party’s case that seeks to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a scandal dubbed “Farmgate” by local media.

The scandal almost brought down Ramaphosa when it erupted in 2022 after an independent panel found evidence he may have committed misconduct.

Ramaphosa denied wrongdoing and was never charged with a crime.

His political party the African National Congress (ANC) rallied around him at the time, using its parliamentary majority to prevent an impeachment process from being launched.

In 2024 the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) approached the country’s highest court, arguing parliament had acted unlawfully by failing to hold Ramaphosa to account. REUTERS