President Cyril Ramaphosa’s legal team successfully argued that the impeachment process could cause irreparable reputational harm before his case against a 2022 panel report is resolved, according to BBC. The panel had suggested Ramaphosa might have committed serious violations and misconduct related to a $580,000 (£430,000) stash of cash found in a sofa at his private farm in 2020.

Legal Challenge and Panel Findings

Ramaphosa is challenging the findings of the 2022 panel in a separate court case to be heard in September, as reported by BBC. The Constitutional Court had ruled in May that parliament had acted unlawfully by shelving the panel’s report, which paved the way for the impeachment process to resume.

The president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating the cash came from the sale of buffaloes, according to BBC, but the panel had found that Ramaphosa might have committed serious violations and misconduct, but he has ruled out resigning over the incident.

Political Terrain and Legal Ruling

The ruling by the Constitutional Court prompted Ramaphosa to mount a legal challenge, arguing the panel had ‘misconceived its mandate, misjudged the information placed before it and misinterpreted the four charges advanced against me,’ according to BBC. On Friday. Western Cape high court judge Andre le Grange halted the parliamentary committee from proceeding with its hearings ‘pending the determination by this court of the applicant’s review.’.

The interim interdict effectively buys time for Ramaphosa, during which he hopes to clear his name, according to BBC; Three judges heard the matter, with two ruling in his favor. The majority judgment means that until his other case is heard and finalised, the impeachment proceedings cannot continue.

Background of the Controversy

The saga dates back to 2020 when a robbery occurred at Ramaphosa’s private farm in Phala Phala, Limpopo province, as reported by BBC; Thieves stole money,allegedly $580,000 (£430,000) in US dollar bills,that had been stuffed into a sofa.

Details of the theft only came to light two years later when the country’s former spy chief, Arthur Fraser, highlighted the theft in an explosive dossier sent to the police, according to BBC. Fraser, a close ally of Ramaphosa’s predecessor Jacob Zuma, accused the head of state of hiding the theft from the police and tax authorities.

The stolen cash was in foreign currency, raising questions about whether exchange control laws were contravened, according to BBC — Ramaphosa denied any wrongdoing and stated the cash came from the sale of buffaloes.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president respects the ruling, according to BBC. ‘The president reaffirms his respect of judicial independence and separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution,’ Magwenya said in a statement. ‘The president will continue to cooperate with and abide by processes of accountability.’

Political analysts expect Ramaphosa to remain in power, even if the impeachment process does get off the ground and ultimately leads to a vote on whether he should be removed from office, according to BBC. Ramaphosa still enjoys the backing of his ANC party, the country’s biggest, which leads a coalition government — the ANC holds about 40 percent of seats in the National Assembly. It is not clear how all the ANC’s coalition partners would vote in the impeachment process.