Former President Jacob Zuma has intensified pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, demanding that he withdraw what he described as a “frivolous” court application linked to the ongoing Phala Phala controversy.
Zuma’s legal team argues that Ramaphosa’s review application is an attempt to delay accountability and frustrate parliamentary processes surrounding the scandal. The matter relates to the theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, which has continued to cast a shadow over the presidency and fuel political tensions within South Africa.
According to Zuma’s allies, the President’s application lacks merit and risks undermining public confidence in democratic institutions. They claim the legal challenge is being used to stall proceedings and shield Ramaphosa from political and legal scrutiny.
The latest development adds another layer to the long-running rivalry between Zuma and Ramaphosa, whose factions remain deeply divided within the ANC. Zuma has consistently criticised Ramaphosa’s leadership, accusing him of weakening the governing party and failing to address the country’s economic and social crises.
Ramaphosa, however, has maintained that his actions are within the law and that he has the constitutional right to challenge findings or processes he believes are flawed. His supporters argue that the President is seeking legal clarity rather than attempting to evade accountability.
The Phala Phala matter remains politically explosive ahead of next year’s local government elections, with opposition parties and some ANC members continuing to demand full transparency over the circumstances surrounding the hidden cash theft and subsequent investigations.
Political analysts say Zuma’s renewed intervention could further deepen divisions within the ANC and reignite internal battles over leadership, accountability and the party’s future direction.
As legal proceedings continue, the dispute is expected to keep dominating South Africa’s political landscape and place additional pressure on both Ramaphosa and the ANC leadership.