The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President, Julius Malema, has vowed that the Phala Phala farm scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa will continue to be a key political issue, even if the Constitutional Court rules in Ramaphosa’s favor. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Malema stated, Phala Phala will never die. Even if it dies in the Constitutional Court, it shall be revived in Parliament when Ramaphosa gets removed as the president of the ANC.
Malema emphasized that the case against Ramaphosa is far from over, predicting that his day in court is inevitable with the involvement of an independent National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and a more objective Parliament. This comes after a long-standing saga related to the theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in 2020, which has drawn criticism and legal scrutiny regarding possible money laundering, corruption, and a lack of transparency.
The EFF leader’s statements reflect ongoing dissatisfaction with how the case has been handled, not only by law enforcement but also within Parliament. Malema believes that Ramaphosa’s political days are numbered and that his exit from the ANC leadership would reignite calls for accountability on the Phala Phala matter. Ramaphosa’s day in court is coming. The NPA is now independent, and we will have an objective Parliament soon. He cannot run forever, said Malema.
In the same address, Malema also took aim at the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, accusing her and her party of inconsistency regarding their stance on Phala Phala. PhalaPhala will never die. We have not eaten anything from Phala Phala. Helen Zille has eaten, Malema alleged, referring to the DA’s shifting positions on the matter. According to Malema, Zille initially supported the motion to hold Ramaphosa accountable alongside DA Parliamentary leader John Steenhuisen but later backtracked after gaining influence in agricultural portfolios.
Malema’s reference to Zille’s alleged political maneuvering reflects the tension between the opposition parties and the governing African National Congress (ANC), as well as within opposition ranks. The EFF leader reiterated his determination to keep the issue alive, accusing political players of using the scandal to serve their own interests rather than ensuring justice.
The Phala Phala saga remains a deeply divisive issue in South African politics, and with Malema’s promise of continued action, it’s clear that the scandal will continue to reverberate across Parliament and the courts in the months to come.