Ramaphosa files papers to interdict beginning of impeachment process

President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed papers in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town seeking to interdict the commencement of the impeachment process pending the determination of his review against the Section 89 independent panel report.

In May, Ramaphosa launched a review into the report which found that he may have a case to answer regarding the February 2020 robbery of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.

The review bid, which is set to be heard in September, seeks to invalidate the Section 89 report itself, as well as any steps taken by the National Assembly pursuant to the report.

Ramaphosa, in his latest filing, says he has no option but to institute the current application due to the possibility that the Impeachment Committee will begin the impeachment hearings before the court has made a decision on the review bid.

VIDEO | A timeline of the Phala Phala saga:

Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s Rules Committee has referred rules governing its process of impeachment of a president back to the sub-rules committee for refining.

The rules are being amended in line with a Constitutional Court order handed down in May on the Section 89 Independent Panel report’s findings.

Among others, MPs have questions about whether a President can be impeached for direct conduct only or also indirect conduct.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza says more consultation needs to be done before the amendments can be adopted by the Rules Committee.

Phala Phala Saga | Impeachment Committee to adopt terms of reference on 26 June: