Section 89 Showdown: Ramaphosa’s Court Challenge to Be Heard over Two Days
Ramaphosa is seeking to suspend the Section 89 process while he challenges a panel finding that he may have breached his oath of office.
- On Wednesday, the Western Cape High Court began hearing President Cyril Ramaphosa's urgent application to halt the Parliamentary impeachment process, with Advocate Wim Trengove arguing the president's case before judges Andrè le Grange, Matthew Francis, and Diane Davis.
- The inquiry stems from a 2022 Independent Panel report, which found "prima facie" evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated constitutional sections regarding the theft of US$580,000 from his Phala Phala farm.
- Impeachment Committee chairperson Makashule Gana confirmed the committee is opposing the interdict, stating "the work of the committee needs to continue." Gana will attend the hearing to ensure legal views are properly articulated.
- National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza declined to oppose the application, citing parliamentary rules that prevent her from interfering in the committee's work; Ramaphosa noted this reflects the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
- A successful interdict would delay the impeachment process by two or three months, while a separate review of the Independent Panel's original report is scheduled for September 2 to 4.
11 Articles
11 Articles
South Africa: 'We Are Confident,' Says Impeachment Chair Ahead of Ramaphosa's Bid to Stop Inquiry
Impeachment committee chairperson Makashule Gana will attend the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday and Thursday, 15 and 16 July. President Cyril Ramaphosa wants the committee's work stopped until a separate court review of the report behind the inquiry is finished.
Section 89 showdown: Ramaphosa’s court challenge to be heard over two days
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to halt Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment proceedings over the Phala Phala matter will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday and Thursday. Ramaphosa wants the impeachment process suspended while he challenges the findings of the independent panel report, which concluded that there is a prima facie case that he may have violated his oath of office. [BREAKING] President Cyril Ramapho…
'You can't dodge accountability': Ramaphosa under fire in Phala Phala court showdown
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s fight to stop Parliament’s Phala Phala impeachment inquiry ran into opposition from four political corners and probing questions from a full bench on the first day of argument in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. Ramaphosa’s counsel, Advocate Wim Trengove SC, argued alone against a line-up of some of SA’s most senior silks, with the MK Party mocking the application outside court as a waste of time. Ramaphosa w…
Ramaphosa seeks to halt impeachment inquiry pending court review
By Thapelo Molefe President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the Western Cape High Court to stop Parliament from commencing public hearings in its Section 89 impeachment process until the court rules on his application to review the independent panel’s report that found sufficient evidence to justify an impeachment inquiry. During proceedings on Wednesday, Ramaphosa’s counsel, Advocate Wim Trengove SC, said the President was seeking only an interim int…
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