President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed he will not resign as South Africa’s (SA) Parliament moves to establish an impeachment committee linked to the long-running Phala Phala controversy.

The process follows last week’s ruling by the Constitutional Court of SA, which found that Parliament’s impeachment rules were unconstitutional.

The judgment stemmed from a challenge brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters and the African Transformation Movement. The parties argued that the National Assembly acted irrationally in 2022 when it rejected calls to establish a committee to investigate findings by an independent panel into the Phala Phala matter.

The allegations relate to foreign currency reportedly stolen from a couch at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in 2020.

Following the court ruling, Thoko Didiza has now begun the process of setting up an impeachment committee.

Parliamentary Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the Speaker would formally submit the independent panel’s report to the impeachment committee and also refer the Constitutional Court judgment to Parliament’s subcommittee responsible for reviewing National Assembly rules.

The subcommittee is expected to propose amendments to the impeachment rules before submitting recommendations back to the National Assembly for consideration.

Despite the renewed pressure, Ramaphosa has maintained that he will not step down.

–ChannelAfrica–