South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing impeachment proceedings related to the scandal known as “Farmgate,” in which thieves stole bundles of foreign currency hidden in a sofa at his rural estate.
Ramaphosa, who has led South Africa since 2018, has always denied any wrongdoing and, on Monday, rejected calls for his resignation, Reuters reported.
Here are some facts about what might happen next:
What is the process for impeaching a president?
South Africa’s National Assembly has the constitutional power to remove a president from office for a serious violation of the Constitution or the law, serious misconduct, or inability to perform presidential duties.
Any member of parliament can table a motion to impeach the head of state. The Speaker of the National Assembly then refers the motion to an independent panel of legal experts, which assesses whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed.
If the panel concludes there are grounds to proceed, lawmakers vote on whether to initiate the impeachment process. If Parliament approves, the matter is referred to a special impeachment committee, tasked with investigating the allegations in greater detail.
If that committee recommends the president’s removal, Parliament then votes on the head of state’s political future. A two-thirds majority is required to approve the impeachment.
How much support does Ramaphosa have in Parliament?
The African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa’s party, holds 159 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly, equivalent to about 40% of the seats. The party governs in a coalition with the Democratic Alliance, which holds 87 seats, as well as smaller political parties.
If all ANC members of Parliament support President Ramaphosa, he will survive an impeachment vote. However, political analysts acknowledge that some party members may turn against him.
What happened in Ramaphosa’s case?
In November 2022, an independent panel appointed by the Speaker of Parliament concluded that there was preliminary evidence that the South African president may have violated his oath of office.
The scandal raised questions about the origin of the $580,000 in cash that the head of state claimed had been stolen from his farm, whether the amount had been properly declared, and why it was hidden in furniture rather than deposited in a bank.
However, a month later, the ANC-dominated Parliament voted against moving forward with the impeachment process. The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters party challenged the decision in the Constitutional Court, which, in May 2026, reinstated the impeachment process.
Following the court’s decision, Parliament announced that the Speaker of the National Assembly would begin procedures to establish an impeachment committee, without specifying a timeline.
Ramaphosa stated on Monday that he would challenge the independent panel’s report in court—a move that, according to analysts, could delay the process.
Can Ramaphosa be removed by a motion of no confidence?
Ramaphosa could also be removed from office through a motion of no confidence, which can be introduced by any member of the National Assembly.
Unlike the impeachment process, a motion of no confidence requires only a simple majority—more than 50%—meaning the South African head of state would need the support of coalition partners to survive politically.
Two political parties, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), have tabled a motion of no confidence and asked the Speaker of Parliament to schedule a vote. Parliament has not yet indicated whether it will allow these initiatives to proceed.
Who can serve as acting president?
Under the Constitution, an acting president assumes office if the head of state is unable to perform his or her duties or if the presidency becomes vacant.
The line of succession provides, in order, for the vice president, a minister designated by the government, or the speaker of the National Assembly.
Does the vice president automatically assume the office?
Vice President Paul Mashatile would not automatically assume the presidency if Ramaphosa were removed from office or resigned.
Under South African law, candidates are nominated by members of Parliament through a secret ballot, and the support of a parliamentary majority is required to elect the new president.
