South Africa's Constitutional Court Revives Impeachment Inquiry Against President Ramaphosa

Claim 1 South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that parliament's 2022 decision to block an impeachment inquiry—a process to consider removing the president from office—into President Cyril Ramaphosa was unconstitutional, allowing the inquiry to be revived.

Evidence The court declared the National Assembly's 13 December 2022 vote inconsistent with the constitution, invalid, and set aside, ordering parliament to reconsider impeachment proceedings. This was reported by DW and SABC News.

Verdict True.

Analysis Multiple independent sources confirm the court's decision, which reinstates the impeachment inquiry that had been halted by the ANC majority.

Claim 2 Arthur Fraser alleged that approximately $4 million in foreign currency was stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farmhouse in 2020.

Evidence The provided sources do not directly mention Fraser's specific $4 million figure; they reference the disputed amount of $580,000 cited by Ramaphosa. No source confirms the $4 million allegation.

Verdict Unverifiable.

Analysis Without corroborating evidence, the claim cannot be confirmed or denied based on the available material.

Claim 3 In 2022, the ANC parliamentary majority blocked an impeachment inquiry—a process to consider removing the president from office—into President Cyril Ramaphosa by rejecting an independent panel's recommendation to investigate the farmhouse cash theft.

Evidence DW and SABC News report that the National Assembly voted on 13 December 2022 to reject the panel's recommendation, a move later ruled unlawful by the Constitutional Court.

Verdict True.

Analysis The ANC majority's action halted the inquiry, but the court's ruling now requires parliament to revisit the matter.

Watch for the impeachment committee's review of evidence and whether it will recommend formal proceedings against the president.