South African president mounts legal challenge against report that could lead to impeachment

Cyril Ramaphosa argues that the authors of the report "misconceived" their mandate. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mounts legal challenge against report that could lead to impeachment Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Cyril Ramaphosa heads a coalition government after his African National Congress (ANC) party failed to secure a parliamentary majority in 2024 A head and shoulders image of Cyril Ramaphosa wearing a white shirt and red tie, with a pin-striped jacket. Behind him can be seen South African flags South African president mounts legal challenge against report that could lead to impeachment South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has started a legal challenge against a report commissioned by parliament that has paved the way for MPs to once again consider impeachment proceedings against him. In 2022, an independent panel said Ramaphosa might have committed serious misconduct relating to the theft of large sums of cash hidden in a sofa at his private farm. The president denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this month a Constitutional Court ruling said parliament had acted unconstitutionally when four years ago it voted against establishing an impeachment inquiry following the report. Earlier this month a Constitutional Court ruling said parliament had acted unconstitutionally when four years ago it voted against establishing an impeachment inquiry following the report. At that time Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party had a parliamentary majority. But since the general election in 2024, it has governed as part of a coalition after losing its majority. In Ramaphosa's legal challenge filed on Tuesday at the High Court in Cape Town, the president said the panel had "misconceived its mandate, misjudged the information placed before it and misinterpreted the four charges advanced against me". The spy, the president and the cash in the sofa A landmark moment in South Africa for a humbled ANC The charges included violating the constitution and serious misconduct. "I do not make this application lightly," the president says in the court submission, arguing that the report should be set aside, thereby annulling the impeachment process. The Speaker of parliament has already formed the impeachment committee, made-up of 31 MPs from 16 political parties, including nine from the ANC, the leading member of the governing coalition. The committee will decide whether there are grounds to start impeachment proceedings. This saga - dubbed "Farmgate" by local media - began in 2020, after $580,000 (£430,000) had allegedly been stolen from Phala Phala, Ramaphosa's farm in the northern Limpopo province. Two years later, the independent panel found evidence that the president may have violated his oath of office and concluded that he had "a case to answer". South Africa has strict rules on holding foreign currency, which say that it must be deposited with an authorised dealer such as a bank within 30 days. At the time, Ramaphosa said the cash was from the legitimate sale of buffalo from his farming business. Geordin Hill-Lewis is seen with his fist raised after his election as the DA's new leader Can this man broaden the appeal of a South African party seen by some as 'too white'? A grainy screen grab showing a rope with a crocodile on the end with a man holding on higher up Police officer tells of operation to retrieve human remains from crocodile A black-and-white close up image of Cynthia Shange smiling Black beauty queen who represented South Africa at Miss World during apartheid dies aged 76 A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica The Trump administration waives a $15,000 visa bond for fans from five countries who have World Cup tickets, but African fans still face challenges. Batting all-rounder Dian Forrester joins Kent for the 2026 T20 Blast. The foreign minister says the "distressed" Ghanaians registered with the embassy in Pretoria to be evacuated. As speaker, Sonko could use his position to challenge the policies of the president, his one-time ally. The United Arab Emirates has denied any involvement in the civil war and says it investigates alleged links. The governor of Ituri said the more time they lose, the closer the province is to disaster. Unrest between crowds trying to reclaim the bodies of suspected Ebola cases and authorities have continued. Four people were also injured in the incident inside Murchison Falls National Park, officials say.