The Constitutional Court will decide whether Parliament acted lawfully. Phala Phala is back at the centre of South Africa’s political conversation as the Constitutional Court prepares to deliver judgment on Friday morning, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to EWN the case is linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s controversial farm scandal. At the time, the money was estimated to be worth between R8 million and R10.6 million. The ruling could influence how Parliament handles accountability cases involving sitting presidents.
Reuters reports the case relates to Parliament’s December 2022 decision to reject an independent Section 89 panel report that found Ramaphosa may have questions to answer over the theft of foreign currency from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo.
The EFF and African Transformation Movement later approached the Constitutional Court, arguing that Parliament failed to fulfil its constitutional oversight role.
The scandal first emerged in 2022 after former spy boss Arthur Fraser accused Ramaphosa of concealing details surrounding the burglary. Ramaphosa has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
‘I stand ready to cooperate with any investigations on this matter,’ Ramaphosa previously told Parliament. He also said he would ‘subject myself to the processes that are under way’.
Friday’s judgment will not determine Ramaphosa’s guilt or innocence. Instead, judges will decide whether Parliament followed constitutional processes when it voted against further impeachment proceedings.
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Chaos at Phala Phala: Who knew about Ramaphosa’s $580k stash?
Picture: Deaan Vivier / Gallo Images
