Story perspectives

Ramaphosa Refuses Resign, Courts Order Impeachment Inquiry

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign and will challenge Constitutional Court-ordered impeachment inquiry, while Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema urged him to resign and asked Didiza to outline steps 48 hours.
The Constitutional Court ruled parliament acted unconstitutionally by rejecting the 2022 impeachment vote, ordered a committee, and noted that the two-thirds majority required in the National Assembly is unlikely given the African National Congress (ANC)’s roughly 40 % seat share.

History

Historical Context

South Africa’s 1996 Constitution set a two-thirds (267 of 400) National Assembly majority as the bar for constitutional amendment. The ANC, which held 252 seats after the 1999 election, fell below that threshold and, with only about 40 % of the vote in the 29 May 2024 election, cannot unilaterally change the charter, shaping today’s political stalemate.

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Story summary

President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign and will challenge Constitutional Court-ordered impeachment inquiry, while Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema urged him to resign and asked Didiza to outline steps 48 hours.
The Constitutional Court ruled parliament acted unconstitutionally by rejecting the 2022 impeachment vote, ordered a committee, and noted that the two-thirds majority required in the National Assembly is unlikely given the African National Congress (ANC)’s roughly 40 % seat share.

1 / 2