Court hears how Ramaphosa ‘failed to promote unity within state’
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused failing to promote the unity within the three arms of state.
The argument was made by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) legal counsel Vincent Maleka in the high court in Pretoria on Thursday.
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Ramaphosa are battling it out in court, with Mhwebane opposing Ramaphosa’s request to delay implementing her remedial action against Gordhan.
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Ramaphosa is applying for an interdict after she found Gordhan to have violated the constitution by approving the early retirement of former South African Revenue Service deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay.
“In this case, the president has decided to take the stance and support the interests of one of the arms of government against the other. And therefore, he has failed to live up to the constitutional promise that he must promote the unity of the different arms of government by doing what he had to do,” Maleka told the court.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, representing Mkhwebane, argued there is no merit in President Ramaphosa’s contention that he does not have the power discipline Gordhan.