South Africa’s parliamentary impeachment committee has decided to fight President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court bid to pause its work. The move comes after the Constitutional Court cleared the way for proceedings over the Phala Phala farm theft. A hearing on the interdict is expected later this year.
Parliament’s 31-member impeachment committee met on 18 June 2026 and voted to oppose Ramaphosa’s urgent application in the Western Cape High Court. The president filed the papers on 12 June, seeking to halt the committee until his separate review of the Section 89 panel report is resolved.
The Section 89 panel concluded in November 2022 that there was prima facie evidence Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution in his handling of the theft of at least $580,000 from his Phala Phala farm in 2020. The Constitutional Court ruled in May 2026 that Parliament’s earlier decision to block an impeachment hearing was invalid.
Committee chairperson Makashule Gana said the panel would continue its work “until a court of law tells us otherwise.” It plans to meet on 24 June to draft terms of reference. Advocate William Mokhare SC advised the committee it could oppose the interdict while remaining impartial on the underlying findings.
Several parties, including the EFF, DA, and ATM, backed the decision to resist the application. DA chief whip Glynnis Breytenbach said the committee should proceed until an interdict is actually granted. A minority view, expressed by the Patriotic Alliance, favoured waiting for the September review hearing.
