Also known as: ConCourt
South Africa's highest court that rules on constitutional matters; recently issued judgment on Ramaphosa's Phala Phala impeachment case.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Informanté
Constitutional Court ruled Parliament's December 13, 2022 decision to reject Section 89 Panel Report unconstitutional
“The Constitutional Court earlier ruled that Parliament's 13 December 2022 decision to reject the Section 89 Independent Panel Report was unconstitutional, reopening the possibility of impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala matter.”
Ramaphosa respects Constitutional Court ruling on Phala Phala matterThe Namibian
Constitutional Court is set to deliver judgment on the Phala Phala scandal application
“South Africa's apex court will rule on an application brought by the EFF and ATM (a small party with two MPs) against Parliament's blocking of an impeachment inquiry by voting down a Section 89 panel report that found Ramaphosa had a serious case to answer.”
D-Day looms for Ramaphosa as ConCourt set to rule on Phala Phala scandalThe Namibian
Constitutional Court has ruled that the chant Kill The Boer does not constitute hate speech
“Some say the chant amounts to hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has ruled previously that it does not.”
New US ambassador to South Africa summoned over ‘undiplomatic remarks'The Namibian
Constitutional Court upheld public protector's findings in 2016 Nkandla judgment
“The Nkandla judgment of 2016, where the Constitutional Court upheld the public protector's findings, was a landmark affirmation that constitutional obligations must override political privilege.”
Zuma’s legal bill nightmareThe Namibian
Constitutional Court annulled the 2019 election, saying there had been widespread tampering
“However, the Constitutional Court later annulled the election, saying there had been widespread tampering, including the use of Tipp-Ex correction fluid on results sheets.”
The professor who beat fraud allegations to become Malawi's president…againThe Namibian
The Constitutional Court annulled the 2019 election, citing widespread tampering
“However, the Constitutional Court annulled the election, saying there had been widespread tampering, including the use of Tipp-Ex correction fluid on results sheets.”
Malawi set to vote for next president as cost-of-living bitesThe Namibian
Constitutional Court barred Edgar Lungu from running for presidency
“He had ambitions to vie for the presidency again but at the end of last year the Constitutional Court barred him from running, ruling that he had already served the maximum two terms allowed by law.”
Zambian ex-president's family settle funeral row with governmentThe Namibian
Constitutional Court has stated freedom of expression is one of a web of mutually supporting rights
“The Constitutional Court, has stated that freedom of expression is one of a web of mutually supporting rights in the Constitution.”
The Paradox Of Tolerance Is Put To The Test In SAAn opinion piece argues that Namibia's constitutional framework treats opposition parties as inferior and enables majority rule to suppress truth and facts in parliamentary and cabinet decisions, calling for amendment of Articles 32 and 35 to establish a consensus-based system of governance.
25 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's constitutional framework treats opposition parties as inferior and enables majority rule to suppress truth and facts in parliamentary and cabinet decisions, calling for amendment of Articles 32 and 35 to establish a consensus-based system of governance.
25 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An opinion piece argues that South Africa's criminal justice system is fundamentally broken and requires a revolution rather than incremental reforms, citing recent leadership failures at the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption and the National Prosecuting Authority.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliament's impeachment committee voted 14–13 to appeal an interdict halting public proceedings against President Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala forex theft; delays over procedural matters such as appointing evidence leaders and finalising terms of reference suggest a lengthy process ahead if hearings commence.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the High Court for an urgent interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing the inquiry would cause him irreparable harm and humiliation. The court heard two days of arguments in Cape Town, with the impeachment stemming from a Section 89 panel report finding he had a case to answer over the theft of $580,000 in cash from his game farm.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Cyril Ramaphosa is applying to the High Court for an interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing that a public inquiry would cause irreparable harm to his reputation. The impeachment stems from a Section 89 independent panel's finding that Ramaphosa had a case to answer regarding the theft of $580,000 in cash hidden at his game farm.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Western Cape High Court heard arguments from opposition parties who urged the court to reject President Ramaphosa's urgent interdict to prevent Parliament's impeachment committee from starting proceedings against him over the Phala Phala saga. The ATM, EFF, MK, and UAT parties argued that granting the interdict would encroach on Parliament's authority.
16 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Constitutional Court unanimously ruled on 2 July that Cape Town's government is responsible for perpetuating spatial apartheid and must take immediate action toward equitable housing distribution, contradicting the DA's earlier claims that the term was "propaganda language."
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Zambian government says it will not pursue further legal action following a South African Supreme Court of Appeal judgment in a dispute with former president Edgar Lungu's family over his burial. The government had disagreed with the ruling but will accept it, ending a legal dispute that began after negotiations between the government and Lungu's family collapsed and the family chose to bury him in South Africa rather than repatriate his remains to Zambia.
24 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Zimbabwe's lower house passed legislation extending presidential terms from five to seven years and scrapping direct presidential elections in favour of parliamentary selection, allowing president Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030. The bill, backed by 216 of 258 voting lawmakers, now moves to the senate and is expected to be enacted.
21 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an urgent court application to halt Parliament's Phala Phala impeachment inquiry, arguing that a Constitutional Court judgment has revived a dormant Section 89 panel report that could threaten his presidency. The report found prima facie evidence that he may have committed serious violations of the Constitution and law in handling the theft of at least $580,000 from his farm.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
ANC veteran Tokyo Sexwale has disputed President Cyril Ramaphosa's explanation of US dollars stolen from his Phala Phala farm, calling it a "cock-and-bull story" and demanding Ramaphosa appear before the impeachment committee. Ramaphosa has said the cash was proceeds from cattle and game sales to a Sudanese businessman and was left at the farm to secure future purchases before being stolen.
24 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An analysis of South Africa's Constitutional Court judgment on the Phala Phala matter argues that demands for President Ramaphosa's resignation are premature, as impeachment requires careful legal scrutiny and can only proceed on grounds of serious constitutional violation or misconduct under Section 89 of the Constitution.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will not resign over the Phala Phala matter and instead will seek a legal review of Parliament's Section 89 panel report on the theft of US$580,000 from his farm. The review process could take up to a year and may run in parallel with an impeachment committee proceeding.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will pursue a judicial review of a Section 89 independent panel report that could lead to his impeachment over the Phala Phala saga. The Constitutional Court cleared the path for a public impeachment hearing into Ramaphosa's conduct on 8 May.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will not resign following a Constitutional Court judgment on the Section 89 impeachment process linked to the Phala Phala matter, stating the ruling does not compel his resignation and that he intends to challenge the independent panel's report through judicial review.
11 May 2026 · Informanté →
South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that the National Assembly's December 2022 vote declining to refer an independent panel's report on President Cyril Ramaphosa to an impeachment committee was unconstitutional and invalid, and has now referred the report directly to the impeachment committee. An analyst says the ANC's use of majoritarian tactics to shield Ramaphosa has left the party in crisis ahead of 2026 local elections.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A Constitutional Court ruling has forced Parliament to consider impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over allegations concerning US dollars stolen from his home. However, analysis suggests it is unlikely he will be removed from office, as a two-thirds majority of MPs would be required and the ANC's interests appear to align with his remaining in power.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that parliament violated the constitution by blocking moves to impeach president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, following a legal challenge by Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters and others. The ruling could result in fresh impeachment proceedings; Ramaphosa's office says he respects the judgement and reaffirms his commitment to the constitution and rule of law.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Presidency says President Cyril Ramaphosa respects the Constitutional Court's judgment declaring Parliament's decision to reject the Section 89 Independent Panel Report into the Phala Phala scandal unconstitutional, reaffirming his commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.
8 May 2026 · Informanté →
South Africa's Constitutional Court will deliver judgment on 8 May on an application by the EFF and ATM challenging Parliament's blocking of an impeachment inquiry against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal, involving the concealment of a farm theft of nearly $4 million in cash.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Conservationist Fred Daniel won a R306-million damages award against South Africa's government in September 2025 for state-sponsored persecution, but the office of the state attorney delayed paying his R700,000 in taxed costs for six months until asset seizure was threatened. The government has announced an appeal against the judgment despite the defendant agency stating it cannot afford the legal fees.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's government formally protested and summoned the new US ambassador after he dismissed the country's constitutional court ruling on an anti-apartheid chant, saying he did not care what the courts said. The ambassador later clarified his remarks and apologized, expressing regret for comments that were seen as disrespectful to South Africa's legal system.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Western Cape High Court declared that South Africa's VAT Act unconstitutionally delegates tax-setting authority to the finance minister, a power that must rest with parliament. Judge Matthew Francis ruled that parliament has 24 months to remedy the constitutional defect, with the current VAT rate to remain in effect unless parliament itself amends the law.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Lewis Group has taken its challenge against Pepkor's proposed takeover of Shoprite's furniture assets to South Africa's Constitutional Court, arguing the R3.2 billion deal would create market dominance and harm consumers through higher prices and worse credit terms. Pepkor contends Lewis lacks standing to intervene and that the challenge would discourage investors.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →