President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an urgent application asking a high court to block parliament from starting an impeachment probe tied to the Farmgate scandal. He is separately challenging an independent panel's misconduct findings related to $580,000 stolen from his farm in 2020, which he says were proceeds from buffalo sales and denies any wrongdoing. The Constitutional Court recently revived impeachment proceedings, but analysts say he would likely survive a parliamentary vote.
Ramaphosa Files Urgent Bid To Halt 'Farmgate' Impeachment — Seeks High Court Ruling First
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to lawmakers in parliament, in Cape Town, South Africa, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Esa Alexander
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa filed an urgent court application on Friday seeking to prevent parliament from beginning an impeachment process tied to the so‑called Farmgate scandal, court documents show.
In his filing, Ramaphosa asked the high court to first decide a separate challenge he lodged to set aside an independent panel's misconduct findings. The panel's report relates to the 2020 incident at his farm in which bundles of cash were stolen from a sofa.
What Was Stolen? Ramaphosa has said that $580,000 in cash was taken and that the money represented proceeds from the sale of buffalo. He has denied any wrongdoing, but the episode prompted questions about why such a large sum was kept in furniture and whether it had been properly declared.
Last month, South Africa's Constitutional Court revived impeachment proceedings by ruling that a 2022 parliamentary vote to halt the process was invalid. The high court is scheduled to hear Ramaphosa's challenge to the independent panel's findings from September 2 to 4.
Political Stakes
Ramaphosa, 73, has been president since 2018 and is serving his second term, which runs until 2029. The Farmgate controversy has been a notable embarrassment for a leader who campaigned on tackling corruption and restoring the African National Congress's reputation.
Despite the political fallout, analysts say Ramaphosa is widely expected to survive an impeachment vote in parliament if the process reaches that stage. The court rulings now underway will determine whether the parliamentary process can proceed.
Next Steps: The high court hearing in September will decide whether the independent panel's findings stand; if those findings are set aside, it could affect the parliamentary impeachment timetable.
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