Ramaphosa wins bid to halt Phala Phala impeachment committee
The Western Cape High Court has granted President Cyril Ramaphosa an interdict to suspend Parliament's impeachment committee proceedings. The committee was investigating the Phala Phala farm theft scandal, but the court ruled that work must pause until the President's legal challenge against the independent panel report is resolved.
Why it matters
This ruling significantly delays the accountability process for the South African President, highlighting the ongoing tension between judicial oversight and legislative parliamentary processes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been granted an interdict suspending the work of Parliament's impeachment committee.
The Western Cape High Court granted the interdict on Friday, ruling that the committee cannot go ahead until his challenge to the independent panel report is decided.
That report, drawn up by a panel chaired by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, found Ramaphosa may have a case to answer over the theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm.
Judge André le Grange delivered the order.
"Pending the determination by this court of the applicant's review, the first and second respondents are interdicted from proceeding with public impeachment hearings in terms of [one] of the National Assembly rules," he said.
He said the costs of the application would stand over for determination by the court hearing the review.
Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president respects the ruling.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in