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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks with journalists after meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Nova)

Real Politics: stuck with a president fighting for himself

The Phala Phala ruling has revived impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa, dragging South Africa back into a politics of scandal

NHI broken. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Constitutional Court fires a warning shot across NHI’s bow

The top court struck down the state’s certificate-of-need scheme. It serves as a warning to NHI’s architects: good intentions aren’t enough

Sisisi Tolashe and President Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC 5th National General Council on Day 01 on December 08, 2025 in Boksburg, South Africa. Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo

Real Politics: the ANC can’t afford to lose Ramaphosa

The NEC has closed ranks behind Ramaphosa after the Phala Phala ruling. Not out of loyalty, but because too many ANC careers depend on his survival

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PODCAST: ‘Sharp Sharp’ – inside Cyril’s couch lottery

A pending impeachment process for Cyril Ramaphosa throws the unanswered Phala Phala questions into sharp relief

BLOEMFONTEIN – APRIL 27: President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at the National Freedom Day Commemoration at Dr Rantlai Molemela Stadium on April 27, 2026, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Volksblad/Mlungisi Louw)

Ramaphosa: caught between a couch and a hard place

The Constitutional Court ruling on Phala Phala leaves Ramaphosa on the ropes. Lawfare might be his first option

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 25: Deputy President Paul Mashatile during day 2 of the African National Congress National Executive Committee at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre on January 25, 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This gathering comes right after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s January 8 Statement, where he laid out the party’s key priorities for the year, focusing on decisive actions to fix local government and transform the economy ahead of the upcoming local elections. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)

Real Politics: Phala Phala ruling opens ANC leadership race

The Constitutional Court’s Phala Phala ruling forces parliament to act and reshapes the ANC succession race, with Ramaphosa’s grip looking tenuous

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 08: Legal personnel during the delivery of the judgment on Phala Phala at Constitutional Court on May 08, 2026 (Photo by Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle)

Buffaloed: Phala Phala comes charging back

Phala Phala is back from the dead. The Constitutional Court just revived an impeachment inquiry the ANC thought it had killed in 2022