South Africa's president wins bid to temporarily halt impeachment inquiry over 'Farmgate'

South Africa's president wins bid to temporarily halt impeachment inquiry over 'Farmgate' On Friday, Western Cape tribunal justice Andre le Grange halted the parliamentary committee from proceeding with its hearings, stating the pause was "pending the determination by this tribunal of the applicant's review." The decision refers to President Cyril Ramaphosa's lawsuit against the panel. The ruling effectively buys time for Ramaphosa, giving him an opportunity to clear his name. His legal team had argued that allowing the impeachment committee to continue while a separate lawsuit remained unresolved could cause him irreparable reputational harm. Three judges heard the matter; two ruled in his favour. The majority judgment means that impeachment proceedings cannot resume until the other lawsuit is heard and finalised. The controversy dates back to 2020, when a robbery occurred at the president's private workplace in Phala Phala, Limpopo province. Thieves entered the premises and stole at least $580,000 (£430,000) in United States dollar bills that had been concealed inside a sofa. Details of the theft emerged two years later when the country's former spy chief, Arthur Fraser, disclosed the incident in an explosive dossier he submitted to police. Fraser, a close associate of Ramaphosa's predecessor Jacob Zuma, accused the head of state of concealing the theft from law‑enforcement and tax authorities. Because the stolen funds were in foreign currency, potential violations of exchange‑control laws were also raised. Ramaphosa has maintained that the money originated from the sale of buffaloes. Following the tribunal's decision, the president issued a statement noting that he "respects" the court's ruling. Reactions to the outcome have varied. The Democratic Alliance, the second‑largest party in the governing coalition, said the ruling was not unexpected but emphasized that it did not "stop the committee from continuing with preparatory [work]." The opposition grouping led by Zuma, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), accused the president of employing the courts to obstruct an inquiry seeking to establish what transpired at his private farm. Meanwhile, the African National Congress welcomed the judgment and urged other parties to "refrain from politically motivated distortions" as the legal process unfolds. Additional reporting by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.