Ramaphosa sought intervention from the Western Cape High Court to halt the actions of a parliamentary impeachment committee while he reviews a November 2022 report suggesting he “may have committed” serious violations, including misconduct. Ramaphosa has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the incident, asserting that he will not resign following allegations about undeclared foreign currency that surfaced after a reported theft in 2020.

Judge Andre le Grange announced that until the court reaches a determination on Ramaphosa’s review, the respondents are prohibited from continuing with a public impeachment hearing. Ramaphosa faces accusations of failing to report a 2020 burglary and the theft of $580,000 from his luxurious Phala Phala farmhouse in Limpopo. He claims the funds originated from the sale of 20 buffaloes and that he promptly reported the break-in to law enforcement.

The allegations were initiated by a former intelligence head, who accused Ramaphosa of concealing a robbery amounting to $4 million from the authorities. In response to opposition party critiques that he was evading responsibility, Ramaphosa reiterated his commitment to judicial independence and the constitutional principle of separation of powers following the court’s decision. He expressed his intent to cooperate with accountability processes.

If the impeachment proceedings proceed, they would mark the first time in South African history that a sitting president faces such action. The court is scheduled to examine Ramaphosa’s appeal against the 2022 report in September, a report that was previously dismissed in a vote by the National Assembly, where his party, the African National Congress, holds a majority. However, the public prosecutor dropped the relevant charges in 2024, though the Constitutional Court later overturned the parliamentary vote in May, resulting in the establishment of the impeachment committee.