News Desk Reporter
President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to wait until next week to learn whether Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment inquiry will be put on hold. The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment in his urgent application.
The matter was argued before a full bench over two days, with Ramaphosa asking the court to temporarily suspend the work of Parliament’s Impeachment Committee while he challenges the findings of the Section 89 Independent Panel Report.
Judge André le Grange thanked all the legal teams for the manner in which they presented their arguments. He said the judges would now consider the submissions before delivering judgment, which is expected by the end of next week.
Advocate Wim Trengove SC, appearing for the President, concluded Ramaphosa’s case on Thursday. He responded to arguments raised by the respondents and argued that Parliament’s inquiry should not continue until the judicial review application has been decided.
At the centre of the dispute is the Independent Panel Report, which recommended that Parliament consider whether there were sufficient grounds to begin an impeachment inquiry linked to the Phala Phala matter.
Ramaphosa is challenging that report and wants the parliamentary process paused until the review has run its course.
Section 89 Impeachment Committee chairperson Makashule Gana attended the hearing as the second respondent.
The court’s ruling is expected to determine the next step in the impeachment process.
If the application succeeds, the committee’s work will be suspended until the review application has been finalised. If the court dismisses the bid, Parliament will be able to continue with its inquiry.