The legal and political saga of the "Phala Phala" affair has taken a major turn. This Friday, the South African Constitutional Court revived the possibility of impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, invalidating a parliamentary decision that had previously protected him.

Genesis of the scandal: dollars hidden in a sofa

The case originated in 2020 but only came to light in 2022 following revelations by a former intelligence chief. The alleged offenses are as follows:

1. The theft: Approximately $600,000 in cash was stolen from the president's private property (Phala Phala).
2. The accusations: The president is suspected of having concealed this theft from the police and the tax authorities, and of having personally orchestrated the kidnapping and interrogation of the burglars.

A parliamentary vote deemed unconstitutional

In 2022, a report by parliamentary experts concluded that there was sufficient evidence to open an impeachment inquiry. However, the National Assembly, then dominated by the ruling party ( ANC ), voted against adopting the report, halting the proceedings.

The Constitutional Court has just broken through this legislative shield by declaring this vote "incompatible with the Constitution." Therefore:

1. The Assembly's vote is cancelled .
2. The report must be submitted to an impeachment committee tasked with conducting a formal investigation.

A highly tense political context

This turn of events considerably weakens Cyril Ramaphosa. Unlike in 2022, the ANC lost its absolute majority in the last elections and now governs within a national unity government.

The issue at stake: If the commission recommends impeachment, the president's fate will depend on a new vote in Parliament, where the balance of power has changed.

While the radical opposition party EFF , which initiated the legal action, hailed it as a victory for democracy, the presidency soberly indicated that it "respected the decision" of the country's highest legal authority.