Yasmin Bilal
Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee has resolved to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to interdict it from continuing with its work.
Chairperson Makashule Gana, a Member of Parliament for the Rise Mzansi party, said the committee has also resolved to request the Speaker of the National Assembly to join it in opposing the interdict application.
“The Impeachment Committee on the Section 89 Enquiry today resolved to oppose the urgent application brought by President Cyril Ramaphosa to interdict the committee from carrying out its work.”
“The committee has also resolved to request the Speaker of the National Assembly to join the committee in opposing the interdict by the President,”
“This decision follows the committee’s consideration of a legal opinion received today on the implications of the application and the committee’s constitutional obligations” said Gana.
The President’s urgent application, launched on 12 June 2026, seeks to stop the committee from proceeding with the impeachment enquiry.
The matter is scheduled to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on 15 and 16 July 2026.”
“The committee exists because of an order of the Constitutional Court, which directed that the Independent Panel Report be referred to the Impeachment Committee for consideration in terms of the National Assembly Rules. That order remains binding unless set aside or varied by a competent court.” Gana added.
“The committee is cited in the proceedings through the Chairperson in an official capacity. The committee’s role is to explain its constitutional obligations and protect its institutional ability to perform its functions.”
The committee has also noted an important jurisdictional issue that forms part of the legal debate before the court.
The obligation to proceed arises from an order of the Constitutional Court, while the urgent interdict application will be heard in the Western Cape High Court.
The courts will determine the legal implications of that distinction. Until a court grants an order directing otherwise, the committee remains bound by the Constitutional Court order and will continue to discharge its responsibilities diligently and without delay.”
“The committee will meet on Wednesday, 24 June to consider its draft terms of reference and the process of appointing evidence leaders,” Gana said.
“The deadline to file a notice to oppose the interdict is tomorrow”, he said.
The Section 89 Impeachment Committee was established following a Constitutional Court ruling that directed Parliament to refer the Independent Panel Report for consideration under National Assembly rules.
The process is linked to the Phala Phala matter, which relates to a 2020 incident in which about $580,000 in foreign currency was allegedly stolen from President Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo.