By Rinelda Mouton
Fresh political turmoil surrounding South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reignited debate in Namibia, with analysts and activists warning that the revived impeachment process could expose deeper cracks within liberation movement politics and regional power networks.
The controversy intensified after Ramaphosa announced that he would not resign despite renewed impeachment proceedings linked to the explosive Phala Phala cash scandal. He argued that stepping down would undermine constitutional processes and give credibility to what he described as a flawed parliamentary report.
His remarks came shortly after South Africa’s parliament moved to establish an impeachment committee following a ruling by the Constitutional Court of South Africa which revived the stalled Section 89 process against him.
At the centre of the scandal are allegations that Ramaphosa concealed the theft of large sums of foreign currency from his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020. The money, reportedly around US$580,000, was allegedly hidden inside furniture at the property and was said to be proceeds from the sale of buffaloes.
The scandal also drew attention in Namibia after two Namibians were alleged to have been involved in the theft at the luxury farm, triggering cross-border investigations and political scrutiny in both countries.
Ambassador and former Namibian High Commissioner to India, Pius Dunaiski said Ramaphosa is expected to use every legal and political avenue available to delay the impeachment process while protecting his political standing ahead of key electoral battles facing South Africa’s ruling African National Congress.
“Critics increasingly believe the strategy is to drag the matter out until after the 2026 local elections while hoping public attention fades. But the danger for the ANC is that this scandal is no longer being viewed as an isolated incident. It is becoming symbolic of a broader institutional crisis involving corruption, political protection and weakening public trust,” Dunaiski said.
He warned that the revived inquiry could also trigger political discomfort in Namibia, particularly for the ruling SWAPO, amid speculation about whether politically connected figures in Namibia may have quietly assisted South African actors behind the scenes.
“If sensitive information or testimony emerges publicly during the South African proceedings, difficult questions could resurface in Namibia regarding transparency, accountability and long-standing political loyalties between liberation movements,” he said.
Social justice activist Saddam Amushelelo described the scandal as a reflection of what he called a culture of political protectionism among liberation-era governments.
“This matter exposes how some African leaders protect each other regardless of the seriousness of the allegations against them. Ordinary citizens are expected to obey the law while political elites appear shielded from accountability,” Amushelelo said.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the real issue threatening Ramaphosa is not Namibia itself, but the unresolved questions surrounding the handling of the scandal in South Africa.
“The real threat to Ramaphosa is the scandal and the institutional response to it inside South Africa. However, the involvement of Namibian suspects has inevitably pulled Namibia into the wider debate about accountability, legality and cross-border state cooperation,” Kamwanyah said.
He added that the matter places both SWAPO and the ANC in politically uncomfortable territory because it revives scrutiny around elite political networks and regional solidarity between liberation movements.
“Neither party is likely to escalate tensions publicly because both will prefer to frame this as a legal matter rather than a diplomatic conflict. But politically, the fallout continues to deepen,” he said.
