President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court to interdict Parliament from proceeding with impeachment inquiries related to the Phala Phala scandal. The President is seeking to pause the formation and operation of an impeachment committee until a separate judicial review challenging the findings of an independent Section 89 panel is concluded.
Legal Challenge And Constitutional Context
The move follows a May 8, 2026, ruling by the Constitutional Court, which declared that the National Assembly’s 2022 decision to block the impeachment process was unconstitutional. During that ruling, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya stated that the vote taken on 13 December 2022 was inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid, and was subsequently set aside.
President Ramaphosa argues that the impeachment process should remain in abeyance until the High Court hears the judicial review of the Section 89 report, which is currently scheduled for September 2, 2026. Legal representatives for the President maintain that this delay is necessary to prevent irreparable harm to both his executive office and the broader reputation of the presidency.
Opposition From Political Parties
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have formally announced their intention to oppose the President’s application. The party argues that the latest court bid represents a continuous pattern of litigation designed to circumvent constitutional oversight and avoid an impeachment inquiry altogether.
The EFF further contends that the pending judicial review does not serve as an automatic stay of parliamentary proceedings. As the political and legal landscape remains deeply divided, the High Court is expected to deliberate on whether the urgency of the President’s request warrants an immediate injunction against the legislative branch.
The matter will now proceed to the Western Cape High Court, where judicial scrutiny of the President’s application is expected to clarify the extent to which parliamentary processes can be halted by pending litigation.