By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that he will seek a judicial review of the Section 89 panel report linked to the 2020 theft at his Phala Phala farm.
This follows Parliament announcement it will establish an impeachment committee to reinvestigate four-year-old allegations that he committed serious misconduct by hiding the theft of more than half a million dollars in cash, which had been stashed in a sofa at his game ranch.
On Friday, 08 May 2026, the apex court ruled that Parliament acted unlawfully when it voted against adopting the Section 89 panel report into the scandal.
The panel recommended that Parliament institute an impeachment inquiry against Ramaphosa – after foreign currency was stolen from his Phala Phala farm in 2020.
Parliament later voted against adopting the panel’s findings.
Addressing the nation at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Monday evening, the President said he had decided, on legal advice, to proceed with an expedited review of the independent panel’s report.
“I accept the Constitutional Court’s ruling. I have reflected on what the judgment means for the country, for the rule of law and for the office I occupy. I am mindful of severe difficulties the country is confronted with,” said Ramaphosa, who added that the Constitution also provided for the right to review an adverse report.
“I have consistently maintained that I have not stolen public money nor committed any crime. I said I would cooperate and have cooperated. I will continue to cooperate. In December 2022 [when the report was tabled], I said I disagreed with its findings and process of reasoning.”
“I decided to take it on review. I was advised the panel report was capable of being reviewed on misconception of mandates and grave errors of law. The National Assembly vote meant the report had no practical or legal consequence. I didn’t proceed with the review but reserved my right to review should circumstances change,” said Ramaphosa.
The President said he remains committed to serving South Africans and completing the mandate entrusted to him.
“I respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign. To do so would be to preempt a process defined by the Constitution. To do so would be to give credence to a panel report that unfortunately has grave flaws.”
Ramaphosa said he believed the Section 89 panel report had relied on hearsay evidence and was fundamentally flawed.
Review applicants have 180 days to lodge proceedings in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act and the president will have to make a substantial argument for the case to be heard expeditiously.
Meanwhile in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa condemned recent violent protests and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country, saying such actions do not reflect the views of South Africans or the government policy.
“These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of ‘community activism,'” he said.
The president said some individuals were unlawfully taking on duties reserved for state authorities, including checking identification documents and searching private property, and warned that “such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are.”
From late April, anti-illegal migration marches have taken place in several South African cities, including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban, with some groups demanding that undocumented migrants leave the country.