The judgment also struck down a parliamentary rule governing impeachment procedures, saying it gave lawmakers too much discretion to halt the process. The court replaced it with a read-in version that obliges parliament to refer a panel’s findings to the impeachment committee, which is responsible for conducting a full inquiry into the hearing evidence, determining whether grounds exist to remove a sitting president.

The ruling follows a legal challenge by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) over the lawfulness of a December 2022 parliament vote. The vote, dominated by the African National Congress party’s majority at the time, quashed the independent panel report, which found evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the constitution.

The case stems from the 2020 theft of about $580,000 in cash from Ramaphosa’s game farm. The money, hidden in furniture, was never reported through standard police channels, prompting the former intelligence chief in 2022 to file a criminal complaint alleging a cover-up, money laundering, and unlawful use of Ramaphosa’s bodyguards to track down suspects.

Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, saying the cash came from the legitimate sale of Ankole cattle and that he had reported the matter internally to his head of security.