UPDATE 1-South Africa's top court backs case seeking to revive impeachment process against president

Ramaphosa ⁠denied wrongdoing and was never charged with ⁠a crime. His political party the African National ​Congress (ANC) rallied around him at the time, ⁠using its parliamentary majority to prevent an impeachment ⁠process ​from being launched.

South ‌Africa's constitutional court ​on Friday backed an opposition party's case that ‌seeks to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a scandal dubbed "Farmgate" ‌by local media.

The scandal almost brought ‌down Ramaphosa when it erupted in 2022 after an independent panel found evidence he ⁠may ​have committed misconduct. Ramaphosa ⁠denied wrongdoing and was never charged with ⁠a crime.

His political party the African National ​Congress (ANC) rallied around him at the time, ⁠using its parliamentary majority to prevent an impeachment ⁠process ​from being launched. In 2024 the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) approached the ⁠country's highest court, arguing parliament had acted unlawfully ⁠by ⁠failing to hold Ramaphosa to account.