President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed papers in the Western Cape High Court to interdict the start of impeachment proceedings. The application seeks to pause the process until a September review of the Section 89 report on the Phala Phala matter. The Economic Freedom Fighters have pledged to oppose the bid.
Ramaphosa launched the review application in May. It targets the independent panel report that concluded he may have a case to answer over the February 2020 robbery of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
The court papers state that Ramaphosa would suffer irreparable harm if the impeachment committee begins its work before the review is decided. The review is scheduled for the first week of September.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo described the court bid as a tactic to avoid accountability. “I think it is ridiculous and reflective of someone who is trying to find a multitude of tactics to try and avoid impeachment committees work from beginning,” Thambo said.
The National Assembly’s Impeachment Committee is due to adopt its terms of reference on 26 June. The Rules Committee has also sent proposed impeachment rules back for further refinement following a May Constitutional Court order.
