Pressure continues to mount on President Cyril Ramaphosa as the Phala Phala scandal returns to the spotlight, with legal, parliamentary, and political developments unfolding simultaneously.
The Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation has now approached United States authorities, including the FBI, requesting an investigation into whether money allegedly stolen during the 2020 Phala Phala burglary breached American anti-money laundering and currency smuggling laws.
Foundation spokesperson Shirley Willemse said the request focuses on the origin and movement of US dollars allegedly kept at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm.
“We have asked US authorities to investigate the flow of funds and whether any American financial laws were breached in the process,” Willemse said.
Meanwhile, Parliament’s Impeachment Committee is set to convene its first meeting on Monday, during which members will elect a chairperson to lead proceedings linked to alleged misconduct findings against the president.
The establishment of the committee follows a Constitutional Court ruling that found Parliament acted unlawfully in 2022 when it voted not to proceed with an impeachment inquiry based on the Section 89 panel report.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also weighed in, urging National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to oppose Ramaphosa’s court application challenging the Section 89 report.
“The Speaker must defend the authority of Parliament and ensure its processes are not undermined,” EFF leader Julius Malema said.
Ramaphosa has since approached the Western Cape High Court to review and set aside the findings of the independent panel, which previously concluded that there was prima facie evidence of possible constitutional breaches.
Photo: X/@PresidencyZA
