In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court has declared that the Parliament’s 2022 decision to halt impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa was unconstitutional. The court’s decision follows a challenge by opposition parties, who argued that ruling party lawmakers improperly blocked a process intended to examine serious allegations against the President.

The case stems from the findings of an independent panel, which concluded that the President had a case to answer regarding the theft of more than $500,000 in cash hidden inside a sofa at his home. The incident sparked intense public scrutiny and raised questions over the source of the funds and whether they had been properly declared.

The court’s decision, seen as an indication of the limits of parliamentary authority, now clears the way for lawmakers to revisit the impeachment process.