South Africa’s political landscape is shifting rapidly, with major opposition parties now actively working together in a bold bid to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa from office. The Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) are forming a united front with the goal of launching a formal impeachment process against the president.
This emerging coalition marks a dramatic escalation in opposition politics and could represent one of the most serious challenges to Ramaphosa’s leadership since he assumed the presidency in 2018.
Opposition Gains Momentum Amid Growing Public Frustration
The impeachment talks come after weeks of rising tensions in Parliament and growing public dissatisfaction with the government’s performance. Opposition leaders argue that President Ramaphosa has failed to address critical national issues such as:
- Soaring unemployment
- Deep-rooted corruption
- Dysfunction within state institutions
- Persistent electricity crises and service delivery failures
Multiple sources within Parliament confirm that discussions are already underway to introduce a motion of no confidence — a key step in initiating impeachment proceedings. The opposition bloc believes the time has come to hold Ramaphosa accountable for what they view as ineffective leadership and a failure to live up to his promises of reform.
What Each Party Is Saying
- The DA has consistently criticized Ramaphosa for “ineffective governance” and for failing to clean up corruption within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
- The EFF accuses him of siding with wealthy elites while ignoring the plight of ordinary South Africans.
- The MKP, a party aligned with former President Jacob Zuma, claims Ramaphosa has betrayed the liberation movement’s values and weakened the ANC’s historical legacy.
Can They Succeed? The Constitutional Hurdles
Impeaching a sitting president in South Africa is no easy task. According to the Constitution, a two-thirds majority in Parliament is required to remove a president from office.
This means that while the opposition parties hold significant seats, they would need to sway a portion of the ANC to succeed — a difficult task given the party’s entrenched internal loyalties, despite its current divisions.
The ANC has so far remained largely silent on the matter. While President Ramaphosa is believed to retain strong support within ANC leadership, there is also growing unease over his administration’s handling of key issues.
What’s at Stake?
If the opposition coalition succeeds in pushing a unified motion forward, it could trigger the most serious political showdown in South Africa in recent years. On the other hand, failure to gain the necessary support could expose cracks within the opposition and re-energize Ramaphosa’s base.
The coming weeks will be critical. As Parliament reconvenes, all eyes will be on whether this united opposition front can deliver a historic upset — or whether it will become another failed attempt to unseat the president.
