The African National Congress (ANC) has called an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee following a court ruling that revived impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal.
Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu confirmed that the special NEC meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening would deliberate on the constitutional court’s decision, which has reopened political and legal scrutiny of the South African leader.
The case centres on the alleged theft of a large sum of foreign currency from a sofa at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in 2020, an incident that has raised long-standing questions about the source of the funds and whether they were properly declared.
Cyril Ramaphosa has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the money originated from the sale of buffaloes on the farm.
He has also said he respects the ruling of the constitutional court, which ordered that impeachment processes should be allowed to proceed.
In 2022, the African National Congress used its parliamentary majority to block the formation of an impeachment inquiry, effectively halting further investigation into the matter at the time.
However, parliament announced on Monday that the Speaker of the National Assembly would now begin steps to establish an impeachment committee in line with the court’s directive.
The renewed proceedings mark a significant political development for Ramaphosa, whose presidency has faced repeated scrutiny over the Phala Phala incident since it first became public.
The scandal has remained a major political flashpoint in South Africa, raising broader concerns about transparency, governance, and accountability at the highest level of government.
As the ruling party prepares to meet, attention is now focused on how it will respond to the court’s decision and what it could mean for Ramaphosa’s political future.
