PRETORIA-(MaraviPost)-South Africa’s highest court has revived impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a scandal in which a large amount of foreign currency was stolen from inside a sofa in his farmhouse in 2020.

The Constitutional Court ruled that parliament’s decision to block the inquiry four years ago was inconsistent with the constitution, paving the way for an impeachment committee to be established.

The scandal, dubbed “Farmgate” by local media, centres on allegations that Ramaphosa tried to cover up the theft of approximately $4 million in foreign currency stashed at his Phala Phala game farm.

Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, saying the money was proceeds from the sale of buffalo at his farm.

The court’s decision is a significant blow to Ramaphosa, who has been in power since 2018 and has survived previous investigations linked to the matter.

The impeachment process is expected to take several months, and Ramaphosa is likely to survive a vote in the lower house of parliament, where a two-thirds majority is required to remove him from office.

The African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa’s party, lost its majority in a 2024 election but still holds over one-third of the seats in the National Assembly.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which brought the case to the Constitutional Court, has called for Ramaphosa’s resignation, saying he has lost the moral authority to lead the country.

The court’s ruling has sent shockwaves through South Africa’s political landscape, with analysts predicting a protracted and intense battle ahead.