President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will not resign during a national address from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on May 8 [1].
The announcement follows a Constitutional Court judgment regarding the Phala Phala scandal, a case that has triggered widespread calls for the president's impeachment. The court ordered that the matter must be aired before an impeachment committee [2].
This legal battle stems from a challenge brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters. The party contested Section 89 proceedings related to the handling of the case [3]. The controversy centers on allegations involving the concealment of stolen funds at the president's private residence.
According to a report by former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser, the incident occurred in February 2020 [4]. Fraser reported the alleged concealment of a stash of dollars stolen from the Phala Phala game farm in June 2022 [4].
Ramaphosa addressed the nation on the evening of May 8 to respond to the findings [1]. Despite the court's directive to move the matter toward an impeachment committee, the president said, "I will not resign" [5].
The president's decision to fight the findings on review indicates a prolonged legal struggle over his tenure. The Phala Phala case has remained a focal point of political instability in South Africa for several years, reflecting deeper tensions between the executive and judicial oversight.
“"I will not resign"”
The Constitutional Court's ruling shifts the Phala Phala scandal from a purely legal review to a political process by involving an impeachment committee. While the president has vowed to remain in office, the transition to a legislative committee increases the political pressure on his administration and provides a formal mechanism for his opponents to seek his removal from power.
