A South African court has temporarily halted public impeachment hearings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a long-running scandal involving $580,000 stolen from his private game farm.

The Western Cape High Court ruled on Friday that Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment committee could not proceed with public hearings until it decides Ramaphosa’s separate application to overturn the report underpinning the inquiry.

The 2-1 majority ruling does not prevent the committee from continuing preparatory work. Its chairman, Makashule Gana, said members would study the judgment to determine “which aspect of the work we can proceed with.”

Ramaphosa’s office welcomed the decision, saying the president “reaffirms his respect of judicial independence and separation of powers” and would continue to cooperate with accountability processes.

The case stems from the Phala Phala scandal, a 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s private game farm in Limpopo, where Ramaphosa claims that around $580,000 in foreign currency hidden in a couch was stolen. However, former spy boss Arthur Fraser alleged that the sum was in fact $4 million. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, saying the money came from a legitimate sale of buffaloes.

An independent parliamentary panel concluded in 2022 that there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the law and his oath of office. The National Assembly rejected the report that year, when the African National Congress (ANC) held a parliamentary majority.

However, the Constitutional Court overturned that decision in May, ruling that Parliament acted irrationally, and ordered the report to be referred to an impeachment committee for review. Ramaphosa subsequently asked the High Court to set the report aside, arguing that it relied on hearsay and failed to distinguish prima facie from sufficient evidence. That challenge is expected to be heard in September.

Opposition parties have criticized the ruling, with African Transformation Movement leader Vuyo Zungula describing it as “nothing else but a delay,” South African broadcaster eNCA reported. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party also expressed disappointment, while Democratic Alliance MP Glynnis Breytenbach said the outcome “was to be expected” and would not prevent the impeachment committee from continuing its preparatory work.

If the committee ultimately finds grounds for impeachment, Ramaphosa’s removal would require support from at least two-thirds (267) of the 400-member National Assembly. His ANC lost its majority in 2024 but still holds 159 seats, enough to block impeachment if its lawmakers remain united. The party now governs through a ten-party Government of National Unity that includes the Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party, and several smaller parties.