P resident Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing to challenge the Section 89 panel report in court in a move aimed at blocking or delaying possible impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala scandal.

The legal review application comes as political parties intensify pressure on the president following findings by the independent panel that his conduct over the 2020 farm theft may warrant parliamentary scrutiny.

Ramaphosa has firmly rejected calls for his resignation, insisting that stepping down would undermine constitutional processes and hand victory to political opponents seeking to destabilise reform efforts.

“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” the president said in a public statement.

He argued that resigning would amount to accepting what he described as a deeply flawed report and abandoning the responsibilities entrusted to him as head of state.

The president further maintained that leaving office would derail ongoing efforts to rebuild state institutions and combat corruption.

The Phala Phala controversy centres on the theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s private game farm in Limpopo in 2020. Questions surrounding how the incident was handled have continued to fuel political and legal debate.

Opposition party ActionSA announced that it plans to file criminal charges against Ramaphosa, accusing him of violating anti-corruption legislation, committing perjury, fraud and allegedly making false statements to police.

The party said recent reports suggesting that as much as R15 million may have been stolen from the farm — instead of the previously stated R10 million — raised serious concerns about transparency and disclosure.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters said Parliament must not allow the president’s court challenge to delay accountability processes.

The party also called on National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to oppose the review application, arguing that the Section 89 panel falls under Parliament’s constitutional oversight powers.

The Democratic Alliance acknowledged Ramaphosa’s legal right to approach the courts but warned against unnecessary delays in the impeachment process.

The DA said Parliament should urgently obtain legal advice on whether the impeachment committee can continue functioning while the review application is before the courts.

The party also described the situation as an “ANC-made crisis”, accusing the governing party of historically shielding its leaders from accountability.

As political tensions escalate, the Phala Phala matter continues to place Ramaphosa’s leadership under intense national scrutiny, with growing uncertainty over the legal and political consequences that may follow