Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an urgent court application to stop Parliament’s impeachment process related to the Phala Phala scandal, arguing that the process should be suspended while he challenges the Section 89 independent panel report in court.
In papers filed in the Western Cape High Court on Friday, Ramaphosa seeks to have the report reviewed and set aside, claiming the panel exceeded its mandate and misinterpreted the allegations against him.
The move follows a Constitutional Court ruling in May that Parliament acted unlawfully when it blocked impeachment proceedings in 2022, leading to the establishment of a 31-member impeachment committee tasked with determining whether there are grounds to recommend his removal from office.
[BREAKING] President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an urgent application before the Western Cape High Court seeking to interdict the Parliamentary Impeachment process against him. @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/IqX4BukxIS
— Zoleka Qodashe (@ZOLEKV_Q) June 12, 2026
Ramaphosa argues that allowing the impeachment inquiry to proceed before the court reviews the panel’s findings would cause “irreparable harm” and create a constitutional conflict.
The Phala Phala controversy stems from allegations by former spy boss Arthur Fraser that the president concealed the theft of millions of US dollars from his Limpopo farm. Ramaphosa has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The latest court bid could delay Parliament’s impeachment inquiry pending a judicial ruling on the legality of the Section 89 report.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
