President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected calls for his resignation, saying he will stay in office while the Phala Phala process continues.

In a national address on Monday evening, Ramaphosa said he would not step down after the Constitutional Court ruling linked to the Section 89 panel report. The matter centres on the alleged theft of about $580 000, roughly R9.6 million, from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February 2020.

Ramaphosa said the judgment did not make any finding against him over his alleged conduct. He argued that resigning now would pre-empt a constitutional process still unfolding.

“I remain here and am not resigning,” he said.

Court Challenge Back on the Table

Ramaphosa confirmed that he will move ahead with his earlier plan to take the Section 89 panel report on review.

He said he has “consistently maintained” that he did not steal public money, commit a crime or violate his oath of office. He also said he disagreed with the panel’s findings when the report was released in December 2022.

According to Ramaphosa, the complaints against him were based on hearsay and not evidence. He said his court challenge is not an act of disrespect towards Parliament, but an attempt to test whether the findings are correct in law and fact.

ConCourt Orders Impeachment Committee

The Constitutional Court found that Parliament acted irrationally in December 2022 when it blocked the referral of the Section 89 report.

The court set aside that decision and ordered the National Assembly to establish an impeachment committee. It also invalidated Rule 129I of the National Assembly rules, which deals with how a president may be removed under Section 89 of the Constitution.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has outlined the next steps. The Section 89 report and the judgment will now go to an impeachment committee.

What Happens Next

The committee must complete its work and table a report in the National Assembly for urgent debate.

If the committee recommends removal, MPs will vote on the matter. A president can only be removed if at least two-thirds of the 400-member National Assembly supports the recommendation. That means 267 MPs would need to vote in favour.

Ramaphosa said stepping down would give weight to a report he believes is flawed. He said he will continue serving South Africa while the process unfolds.