On Friday, Western Cape High Court Judge Andre le Grange stopped the parliamentary committee from continuing its hearings “pending this court’s determination of the applicant’s review”, referring to Ramaphosa’s case against the panel.

The ruling effectively buys Ramaphosa more time, during which time the president hopes to clear his name.

In court, his legal team had argued that failing to halt the impeachment committee’s work until his other case was resolved could cause irreparable damage to his reputation.

Three judges heard the matter and two ruled in his favor. The majority ruling means that until his other case is heard and finalized, the prosecution process cannot continue.

This entire saga dates back to 2020, when a robbery occurred at the president’s private estate in Phala Phala, Limpopo province.

The thieves broke in and stole money – allegedly $580,000 (£430,000) in US dollar notes – which had been stuffed in a sofa.

Details of the theft did not come to light until two years later, when the country’s former spy chief, Arthur Fraser, highlighted the theft in an explosive dossier he sent to police.

Fraser, a close ally of Ramaphosa’s predecessor Jacob Zuma, accused the head of state of hiding the theft from police and tax authorities.

Since the stolen money was in foreign currency, exchange control laws could also have been violated.

Ramaphosa said the money came from the sale of buffaloes.

The president issued a statement shortly after Friday’s ruling saying he took note and “respected” the court’s decision.

Additional reporting from Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg