The Section 89 Impeachment Committee has resolved to appeal the Western Cape High Court judgment that prevented it from proceeding with public impeachment hearings involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The ruling, handed down last week, interdicted the committee from continuing with the hearings pending the outcome of the president’s review application.
The committee met on Wednesday to receive a legal briefing from Parliament’s Legal Services Division on the court judgment and its implications for the inquiry.
Members also considered a legal opinion on whether the authors of the Independent Panel Report should appear before the committee to present their findings.
Following its deliberations, the committee resolved to challenge the court ruling.
Committee chairperson Makashule Gana said the committee would now work with its legal team to prepare and file the necessary appeal papers.
@iolnews
⚖️ COURT GRANTS INTERDICT TO RAMAPHOSA 🏛️ The Western Cape High Court in Cape Town has officially granted President Cyril Ramaphosa an interdict, halting Parliament’s impeachment committee proceedings! 🛑 Judge André le Grange ordered the full suspension until Ramaphosa’s legal challenge against the independent Phala Phala report is decided. The report, chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, noted he may have a case to answer regarding foreign currency theft at his private farm. 💵 Outside court, MK Party spokesperson Andile Mngxitama and EFF National Chairperson Nontando Nolutshungu addressed members of the media following Friday’s landmark High Court judgment. 🎙️🇿🇦 📹 Video: Henk Kruger/IOL
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The committee also decided that the members of the Independent Panel who authored the report would not be required to appear before it, saying the panel’s mandate ended once the report had been submitted.
Instead, once appointed, the evidence leaders will guide the committee through the contents of the report and the supporting evidence.
The meeting also included discussions on the appointment of evidence leaders and the draft terms of reference for the inquiry.
However, the committee was unable to conclude all items on its agenda because of the length of the deliberations and members’ contributions.
Gana said the committee will reconvene on Wednesday, August 5, and Friday, August 7, to continue its work on finalising the appointment of evidence leaders and the inquiry’s terms of reference.
IOL
