Quick Take: President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a court challenge to overturn a 2022 panel finding that he may have committed misconduct over $580,000 stolen from a sofa on his farm. He contends the inquiry relied on hearsay and misread its mandate. A central bank probe found no exchange control breaches, while the Constitutional Court has ordered further investigation after voiding a 2022 parliamentary vote that blocked impeachment. The ANC has reaffirmed support for Ramaphosa, making a successful impeachment vote in parliament unlikely without broad cross-party backing.
Ramaphosa Goes to Court to Overturn 'Farmgate' Misconduct Finding
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa reviews the honour guard, on the day he meets Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo
By Nilutpal Timsina
JOHANNESBURG, May 26 (Reuters) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed a legal challenge seeking to set aside a 2022 panel report that found he may have committed misconduct in the so-called "Farmgate" affair, broadcaster eNCA reported on Tuesday.
Challenge Targets Hearsay And Mandate Interpretation
According to court papers cited by eNCA, Ramaphosa argues the panel's conclusion that he may have breached the constitution relied on hearsay evidence and reflected a misinterpretation of the inquiry's mandate. The president is asking a judge to quash that finding.
Ramaphosa's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment; his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya was cited as not replying at the time of reporting.
Cash, Questions And Previous Inquiries
The episode centers on bundles of cash — about $580,000 — that were stolen from a sofa on Ramaphosa's farm in 2020. The theft reignited questions about the origin and handling of the money: whether it was properly declared and why such a large sum was kept in furniture rather than deposited in a bank.
Ramaphosa, who was a wealthy businessman before entering politics, says the funds came from the sale of buffalo. A subsequent central bank investigation found he did not breach exchange control regulations.
Political Stakes And Legal Developments
The matter has been politically sensitive for Ramaphosa, who rose to the presidency on a platform of fighting corruption and reforming the African National Congress (ANC). In 2022, ANC lawmakers blocked impeachment proceedings, but the Constitutional Court earlier this month ruled that the parliamentary vote was invalid and instructed that the allegations be further examined.
Ramaphosa, 73, has said he respects the court ruling and has resisted calls from critics to resign. His presidential term runs until 2029, and analysts say he would likely survive a parliamentary impeachment vote: such a motion requires a two-thirds majority to pass, while the ANC holds roughly 40% of seats following the 2024 election.
Context: The case remains under legal and political scrutiny as the courts and parliamentary bodies consider whether the earlier processes were conducted properly.
(Additional reporting by Sfundo Parakozov; Editing by Alexander Winning and Keith Weir)
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