President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court to stop Parliament's Section 89 impeachment inquiry [1].
The legal bid could freeze the proceedings regarding the Phala Phala scandal, effectively delaying the legislative process to determine if the president should be removed from office.
The application was filed on Friday during the second day of the hearing [1]. Ramaphosa is seeking to suspend the impeachment process while a review is conducted of the Section 89 Independent Panel report [3]. That report previously found a prima facie case against the president in the Phala Phala matter [3].
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza said she will not oppose the president's bid to halt the inquiry [2]. Her position suggests a lack of resistance from the legislative leadership regarding the suspension of the proceedings.
The controversy centers on the findings of a 31-member independent panel [3]. This panel was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the Phala Phala scandal to determine if there were grounds for impeachment.
Ramaphosa's legal team argues that the current proceedings should be paused until the underlying report is reviewed [3]. The outcome of this urgent application will determine whether the Western Cape High Court allows the impeachment inquiry to proceed or grants the president the requested stay.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court to stop Parliament's Section 89 impeachment inquiry”
This legal maneuver shifts the battle over the Phala Phala scandal from a legislative forum to the judiciary. By securing the non-opposition of Speaker Thoko Didiza, Ramaphosa has removed a primary institutional hurdle, making it more likely that the court will grant a temporary stay. This delays the political resolution of the impeachment process and places the timeline in the hands of the Western Cape High Court.
