Cape Town – The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to halt Parliament’s impeachment inquiry over the Phala Phala scandal, with a ruling expected by the end of next week.
Ramaphosa’s advocate, Wim Trengove SC, argued that the independent panel used the wrong legal standard when it found the president had a case to answer, relying on untested evidence such as media reports and hearsay instead of properly weighing all the available evidence, including Ramaphosa’s explanation.
Opposing parties, including the ATM and MK Party, argued the application should fail because the impeachment process had already commenced before the case was launched.
Advocate Dali Mpofu SC also challenged Ramaphosa’s legal arguments, saying the panel had acted appropriately.
Ramaphosa is seeking to pause the impeachment inquiry until the court hears his application to review and set aside the panel’s 2022 report, which found there was sufficient evidence for Parliament to investigate his conduct over the theft of foreign currency from his Phala Phala farm.
That review application is scheduled to be heard from 2 to 4 September.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
