Yasmin Bilal
President Cyril Ramaphosa has approached the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town.
He has filed an urgent application challenging aspects of the impeachment inquiry process against him.
Court papers show the matter is between Ramaphosa and the Speaker of the National Assembly. Other respondents include the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the African Transformation Movement (ATM), and Vuyolwethu Zungula.
The application is brought under Rule 6(12) of the High Court rules. It asks the court to treat the matter as urgent. It also seeks to set aside normal procedural timelines.
Ramaphosa argues that the matter is “inherently urgent”. He warns that parts of the impeachment process may continue before a judicial review is finalised.
He says this could cause irreparable harm. He adds that it may undermine any future review of the process.
“In those circumstances, the review court will be confronted with a situation in which consequences flowing from the report have already occurred before the validity of the report has been determined,” the papers read.
He further argues that he will not obtain substantial redress later if the matter is not heard urgently.
He is asking the court to grant urgent relief. He also wants the matter to be heard without delay.
Ramaphosa’s impeachment proceedings have been reinstated in Parliament following a Constitutional Court ruling linked to the Phala Phala controversy on the 8th of May.
The case is linked to a 2020 incident in which about $580 000 in foreign currency was allegedly stolen from his Limpopo farm.
Ramaphosa has challenged the findings of the original independent panel through a judicial review.
Despite this, Parliament has established a 31-member Section 89 committee to continue the process.
The National Assembly confirmed the committee on May 25, and the committee held its first meeting on June 1. At that meeting, Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana was elected as chairperson.