Impeachment Committee continues work as judgment reserved in Ramaphosa interdict matter
Parliament’s Impeachment Committee said it would continue preparing for the Section 89 inquiry into allegations of misconduct against President Cyril Ramaphosa, despite the Western Cape High Court reserving judgment on the President’s attempt to halt the process.
Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana said the court was expected to deliver its ruling by the end of next week, but the committee’s work would continue unless a competent court directs otherwise.
Gana said the committee would proceed with its scheduled meeting next Wednesday, where it would continue with preparations, including considering nominations for evidence leaders submitted by political parties.
He said the appointment of evidence leaders, preparation of witnesses and finalisation of the inquiry’s terms of reference are part of the committee’s preparatory work and wrfe not being challenged in the President’s court application.
“We have long said as the committee that until such time that the competent court can stop or indicate that we must not proceed, we’ll proceed. The work continues.”
COURT PROCEEDINGS NOT STALLING PREPARATIONS
The Western Cape High Court heard arguments this week in President Ramaphosa’s urgent application to suspend oral evidence in the impeachment inquiry pending a review of the parliamentary report that triggered the process.
Ramaphosa’s legal team argued that the independent panel which recommended that the matter be referred to an impeachment committee applied the wrong legal standard when assessing the evidence linked to the Phala Phala farm matter.
However, respondents, including Parliament and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), argued that the impeachment process is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly and should not be delayed through court proceedings.
Gana said the committee had already received nominations for evidence leaders from political parties and had instructed Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Services Office to begin assessing the availability of senior counsel.
He said the committee would recommend an evidence leader, while the formal appointment would be made by Parliament.
“We are now looking at the nominations of the evidence leaders, so we have received nominations from the political parties. We need someone who can give up their time to serve their country as an evidence leader, because this is not a short process.”
The Section 89 inquiry stems from findings by an independent panel that there was sufficient evidence for President Ramaphosa to answer allegations related to the 2020 theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm.
Gana said the committee remained confident it would move closer to appointing an evidence leader at its meeting next week, while awaiting the High Court’s decision.
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