Cape Town – The Constitutional Court says its judgment on whether Parliament erred in its handling of the Phala Phala matter involving President Cyril Ramaphosa is at an advanced stage and expected to be delivered within the coming month.
The case stems from a 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm, where millions in foreign currency were allegedly stolen.
According to IOL, The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) approached the apex court in 2024 after Parliament, in December 2022, rejected a Section 89 panel report that found there was a prima facie case that the President may have violated his oath of office.
The EFF is seeking to have Parliament’s decision declared irrational and unlawful, arguing that it should have adopted the panel’s findings and referred the matter to an impeachment process. The Constitutional Court heard the matter on 26 November 2024.
EFF leader Julius Malema has repeatedly criticised the delay, writing to Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to express concern.
♦️Breaking News♦️
The Constitutional Court of South Africa has formally responded to CIC @Julius_S_Malema, confirming that judgment in the Phala-Phala matter (CCT 35/24) is at an advanced stage and expected within a month.
This follows the Economic Freedom Fighters’ principled… pic.twitter.com/rHJ99Y8GEX
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) April 8, 2026
The party says more than 490 days have passed since the hearing, arguing this exceeds judicial norms that judgments should generally be delivered within three months of a hearing, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
“It has now been 494 days since this matter was heard before the Constitutional Court, constituting an extraordinary and unacceptable delay in a matter of profound constitutional and national importance,” The Citizen quoted the EFF as saying.
In its court papers, the EFF maintains it is awaiting a ruling that will “uphold the constitution without fear or favour and affirm the principle that no one is above the law”.
The Phala Phala matter has previously been examined by several institutions. The Public Protector and the South African Reserve Bank both cleared Ramaphosa of wrongdoing related to exchange control and ethics complaints linked to the theft of more than $500 000 from his farm.
JUST IN: ConCourt is set to deliver judgment re: EFF’s bid to revive the Phala Phala saga “within a month”. EFF initially challenged parly’s Dec 2022 decision to not adopt the S89 panel report (which found that Pres. Ramaphosa MAY have a case to answer) on 26 Nov 2024 #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/7Ukbw6pR6u
— Canny Maphanga (@CannyMaphanga) April 8, 2026
However, a 2022 independent panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo found that there was a prima facie case that the President may have violated his oath of office, prompting Parliament’s review process.
Separately, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) also investigated the farm break-in. Its report was initially classified as “top secret” in 2025 but was later declassified in 2026, although it remains accessible only through legal processes.
The Constitutional Court has now confirmed that its judgment is in its final stages and will be handed down within a month, bringing renewed attention to one of the country’s most closely watched constitutional cases.
Picture: X/@PresidencyZA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
