Yasmin Bilal
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has filed a notice to abide by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to interdict Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment proceedings against him in the Western Cape High Court, choosing not to oppose the matter.
The decision comes amid pressure from opposition parties, with some calling on Didiza to actively defend Parliament’s mandate and allow the impeachment process to proceed, while others argued she should abide by the President’s application or recuse herself from the case.
Several opposition parties, including the ATM, EFF and ActionSA, also called for Didiza to step aside from matters relating to the impeachment process. They argued that her position within the governing party could create a perception of bias and questioned whether she could independently oversee proceedings involving the President.
Opposition parties had insisted that the Speaker should take a firm stance in support of the Section 89 Impeachment Committee’s work.
Didiza has ultimately chosen not to oppose the urgent interdict application brought by Ramaphosa, leaving the matter for the court to determine.
On Thursday, Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee resolved to oppose the President’s urgent application to halt its proceedings.
Committee chairperson Makashule Gana, a Member of Parliament for Rise Mzansi, said the committee would challenge the application in court and continue defending its mandate.
“The committee has also resolved to request the Speaker of the National Assembly to join the committee in opposing the interdict by the President,” said Gana.
Ramaphosa’s urgent application, filed on 12 June 2026, seeks to stop the committee from continuing with the impeachment inquiry. The matter is scheduled to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on 15 and 16 July 2026.
The Impeachment Committee was established following a Constitutional Court ruling directing Parliament to refer the Independent Panel Report for consideration in terms of the National Assembly Rules.
The process is linked to the Phala Phala matter, which stems from a 2020 incident in which about US$580,000 in foreign currency was allegedly stolen from President Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo.
The EFF says it is losing confidence in National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, accusing her of undermining Parliament’s independence.
The party called the move “reckless” and “irresponsible”, saying it departs from Parliament’s established position.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the Speaker has failed in her constitutional duty to defend the institution’s integrity.
He questioned the legal basis for her decision, saying it contradicts both legal advice and the impeachment committee’s stance.
Thambo also raised concern over whether Parliament will oppose further litigation linked to the Ngcobo Panel report.
The EFF welcomed the committee chairperson’s decision to oppose Ramaphosa’s application.
Activists and Citizens Forum spokesperson Dennis Bloem also criticised Didiza, calling the move “strange” and politically driven.
He said the majority of parties on the impeachment committee had agreed to oppose the application.
Bloem added that indications of division were already visible during committee discussions, where the ANC was pushing against opposing the interdict.
He further suggested the Speaker’s position reflects political instruction rather than an independent decision.
Didiza has not publicly responded to the criticism.