EFF statement thanking the Gauteng ground forces for supporting the fight against Ramaphosa’s impunity

27 November 2024

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) extends its revolutionary gratitude to the fearless, over 10 000, Gauteng ground forces of the movement who came out to picket at the Constitutional Court in support of the EFF's relentless pursuit of accountability and justice in the Phala Phala scandal. Your commitment to truth and the principles of justice reaffirms that the struggle for a corruption-free and accountable govemment will never be fought in vain.

Yesterday, the EFF and other forces of integrity took the fight to the Constitutional Court to challenge the shameful and deliberate failure of the National Assembly to adopt the Independent Panel Report in 2022. This report, authored by an independent panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, revealed prima facie evidence that Cyril Ramaphosa violated the Constitution and laws of South Africa through his corrupt dealings and secretive handling of illicit cash at his Phala Phala farm.

The EFF brought this matter to the court because the National Assembly's decision not to adopt the report—despite its damning findings—amounted to a gross betrayal of its constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable. This betrayal, orchestrated by the ANC majority in Parliament, has shielded Ramaphosa from facing the consequences of his reckless actions, where millions of dollars in foreign currency were hidden in furniture, stolen, and then attempted to extrajudicially recover through the torture of workers on his farm.

The President of this country has turned its highest office into a den of criminality, where state institutions are deployed to sanitise his lawlessness and conceal his blatant disregard for ethics and governance. The Reserve Bank, the Public Protector, and the South African Revenue Service have been weaponised to absolve him of wrongdoing, while Parliament's role as the overseer of the executive has been reduced to a rubber stamp for impunity.

Yesterday, the EFF made a compelling submission, seeking relief from the Constitutional Court to set aside the National Assembly's decision on the grounds that it was irrational.

The party argued that the Assembly had failed in its constitutional duty to hold the President accountable, as mandated by Section 89 of the Constitution. According to the EFF, the majority party in the Assembly, the African National Congress (ANC), abused its numerical dominance to shield the President from scrutiny. This, the EFF contended, resulted in a decision that does not withstand the constitutional test of rationality, given the Assembly's obligation to act as a check on executive power.

In their defence, the legal representatives of the National Assembly and the President relied on arguments that sought to avoid substantive engagement with the merits of the case. Instead, their submissions focused on procedural and technical objections. They claimed that the EFF's application to the Constitutional Court was misplaced, asserting that the matter should have been raised in a different forum or at an earlier time. Much of their argument centred on peripheral issues, such as the time gap between the Assembly's decision and the EFF's application, rather than addressing the core issue of whether the Assembly acted in accordance with its constitutional mandate.

Furthermore, the defence sought to deflect attention by engaging in semantic debates over definitions and technical interpretations of the impeachment process. This approach demonstrated a lack of substantive defence and appeared aimed at obfuscating the fundamental issue of accountability. By focusing on procedural objections rather than justifying the Assembly's decision, the defence revealed the weakness of their case and their reliance on sidestepping rather than directly addressing the constitutional implications of the matter.

The EFF's case highlights the broader question of whether the National Assembly can effectively discharge its duty to hold the executive accountable when the ruling party prioritises political expediency over constitutional obligations. While the court has reserved judgement, their ruling on this matter will be pivotal in determining the boundaries of legislative accountability and executive oversight in South Africa's democracy.

However, this fight is not only against Cyril Ramaphosa but also against the white monopoly capitalists who handle and protect him. Ramaphosa's presidency serves the interests of white capitalists and owners of the means of production, who continue to exploit African labour and perpetuate economic oppression.

His defenders include the Democratic Alliance (DA), who, now that they govern in the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) arrangement, have abandoned the fight for justice in the Phala Phala matter. Their silence and complicity are proof that Ramaphosa's protection is rooted in a broader alliance with white capital, which thrives on the continued oppression and exclusion of the African majority. Our fight is against this white capitalist domination, and we remain resolute in dismantling all systems that sustain the exploitation and dehumanisation of our people.

Yesterday's demonstration of revolutionary solidarity outside the Constitutional Court is a reminder to all that the power of the people is greater than the people in power. The ground forces of the EFF are the living embodiment of the fight for justice, and their support is what will dismantle the dictatorship of the ANC and its complicit leadership.

Let it be known that the EFF will never retreat or surrender in its pursuit of a South Africa free from corruption, where leaders are held accountable, and where the Constitution is more than just a piece of paper but a living, breathing document that safeguards the people.

To every Fighter who stood outside the Constitutional Court yesterday, your actions echoed the revolutionary chants of accountability, justice, and freedom. You are the vanguard of this movement, and history will remember your courage and resilience.

Together, we will end the reign of impunity and build a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it.

Issued by Leigh-Ann Mathys, National Spokesperson, EFF, 27 November 2024