Ramaphosa refuses to resign following Constitutional Court judgment

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected calls for his resignation following last week’s Constitutional Court judgment linked to the Phala Phala scandal, saying he will remain in office and challenge the independent panel report through a judicial review process.

Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Monday evening, Ramaphosa said the Constitutional Court ruling did not require him to resign and stressed that the court had made no finding against him regarding alleged misconduct.

“The Constitutional Court made no finding of any kind regarding my alleged conduct,” Ramaphosa said. “I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign.”

The court ruled that aspects of the National Assembly’s rules governing the removal of a president were unconstitutional and ordered that the independent panel report on the Phala Phala matter be referred to Parliament’s impeachment committee.

The report, compiled in 2022, found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious misconduct and violated the Constitution over the handling of the theft at his Limpopo farm in 2020.

Ramaphosa maintained that he had not committed any crime, stolen public funds or breached his oath of office, adding that he had cooperated fully with all investigations into the matter.

The president announced that he would proceed with a court review of the independent panel’s findings, arguing that the report contained “grave flaws” and legal errors.

“To resign now would be to give in to those who seek to reverse the renewal of our society, the rebuilding of our institutions and the prosecution of corruption,” he said.

Ramaphosa also defended his administration’s efforts to rebuild state institutions, tackle corruption and strengthen the economy, saying he intended to complete the mandate given to him by South Africans.