South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed growing calls for his resignation following renewed pressure over the controversial Phala Phala scandal, insisting that he has no intention of leaving office.

Speaking on Monday, Ramaphosa said he would challenge in court a recent Constitutional Court ruling that reopened the possibility of impeachment proceedings against him.

The judgment found that Parliament acted unlawfully when it previously decided not to establish an impeachment inquiry linked to the Phala Phala matter in 2022.

“I am staying on and I will not resign,” Ramaphosa declared, putting an end to speculation about his political future.

The scandal centres on the theft of a large amount of foreign currency hidden inside furniture at the president’s Phala Phala game farm. Critics questioned both the source of the money and the manner in which the incident was handled.

An independent panel earlier concluded there was prima facie evidence suggesting Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution and committed misconduct.

However, the president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the cash came from the legal sale of buffalo through his farming business.

The Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament should have properly considered an impeachment inquiry instead of dismissing the matter outright. Ramaphosa now plans to seek a judicial review of the panel’s findings, arguing that parts of the report were based on hearsay evidence.

Should Parliament proceed with impeachment discussions, opposition parties are expected to use the report as the foundation for attempts to remove him from office.

Political analyst Professor Richard Calland believes Ramaphosa is still likely to survive any parliamentary vote, although he noted that the president’s legal challenge may also be an effort to avoid a politically damaging impeachment hearing that could tarnish his legacy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned recent violent protests and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, saying such actions do not represent the values of the country or the position of government.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ramaphosa said some individuals were taking advantage of the frustrations faced by poor communities to engage in unlawful activities, including demanding identification documents from people and conducting illegal searches of private property.

The South African leader said the government would not tolerate acts of intimidation, violence or lawlessness directed at foreign nationals.

“Such actions will not be tolerated,” Ramaphosa said, adding that everyone living in South Africa, including citizens and foreign nationals, was required to obey the law.

He stressed that while concerns around illegal immigration remained a challenge for government, they must be addressed through lawful and constitutional means rather than through vigilantism or attacks on migrants.

“The government is implementing measures to deal with undocumented migration in a manner that protects social stability, national security and public services,” he said.

According to the president, undocumented immigration has placed growing pressure on key public services such as healthcare, housing and municipal infrastructure in several communities across the country.

“The labour market had been affected, with some employers accused of exploiting undocumented foreign workers by paying them lower wages instead of employing South African citizens,” he added.

President Ramaphosa warned that criminality and violence would only worsen tensions and undermine efforts to find lasting solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges.

The statement comes amid rising tensions in parts of South Africa where protests linked to immigration and unemployment have sparked concern among civil society groups and regional leaders.

The government has repeatedly called for calm and urged communities to work with law enforcement authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.

By Staff Reporter

Ngizwe Mchunu is facing backlash after allegedly saying foreign nationals should leave Durban within six days.

The comments came after a video circulated on social media showing him reportedly assaulting a 21-year-old foreign student in South Africa.

In the video, Mchunu is seen confronting the student, which has caused public anger and renewed concern over attacks on foreign nationals. The video has not been independently verified, but it has already gone viral.

He is also reported to have said that some people are “hungry for the blood of foreigners,” a statement that has been widely criticised as dangerous and inflammatory.

Human rights groups and members of the public have called for investigations and urged authorities to take action.

They say such behaviour, if confirmed, promotes violence and harms community relations.

Police have not yet released an official statement on the incident, while the matter continues to attract strong public attention.