Opposition voices asking the president to resign have resurfaced. This has been particularly so after a court ruling made on Monday, 10th May 2026.
What the Case was About
In 2022, the head of the state security agency in South Africa, Arthur Fraser, instituted a case against the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to the agency, Ramaphosa concealed information regarding a big heist at his farm two years earlier.
At the time of the heist, Ramaphosa was already serving his elected term, having won the May 2019 Presidential elections. Earlier in February 2018, he had taken over the presidency from Jacob Zuma, who left office prematurely. President Zuma had fallen out with his political party at a time he was being accused of corruption.
The heist that Ramaphosa failed to report involved $580,000 stolen from his farm in Limpopo. Apparently, he had hidden the large amount of foreign currency within a sofa in his luxurious house.
Although a parliamentary committee formed to review the allegations found the president at fault, Ramaphosa escaped impeachment. His party, the African National Congress (ANC), was able to save him as it formed the majority in parliament. Parliament simply did not initiate impeachment proceedings.
Case Reopened
Ramaphosa continued running the government as if there was never a serious case against him. However, two groups joined forces and took him to court in 2024.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) opened a case at the country’s Constitutional Court. The two groups challenged the 2022 decision by Parliament, not to open impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa.
On Monday, the court concurred with the two groups, saying that Parliament’s failure to engage an impeachment committee was not consistent with South Africa’s constitution. Hence, it invalidated the 2022 Parliamentary report that blocked President Ramaphosa’s impeachment proceedings.
The President May or May Not be Impeached
President Cyril Ramaphosa may or may not be impeached. If he is not, it will not be because of outside help as it happens when there is a bilateral issue.
Today, Parliament’s composition is very different from that of 2022. ANC does not have majority seats. Instead, it now comprises 10 parties, which govern as a coalition. This means the president’s support is not guaranteed.
The president might attempt to sway a majority of the parties to delay the impeachment process. This may work considering that the court, in its Monday ruling, did not provide a timeline for Parliament to make things right.
Alternatively, he may be able to convince a majority of the Members of Parliament to vote in his favour once the impeachment process begins. What he cannot do is act as if the court ruling is immaterial.
While the President seems confident he will be able to complete his second full term, the opposition is apparently not. Hence their calls for President Ramaphosa to resign. The optimistic and confident Ramaphosa has stated categorically that he will not resign.