Friday, 24 July 2026 | 10:19
CAPE TOWN – Political parties have reacted to the Western Cape High Court’s decision to grant President Cyril Ramaphosa an interdict halting the Section 89 Impeachment Committee’s proceedings linked to the Phala Phala scandal.
The ruling has drawn mixed reactions, although several political parties say the outcome was not unexpected.
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach described the decision as predictable, while emphasising that the ruling does not prevent the committee from continuing with preparatory work.
Ramaphosa approached the court on an urgent basis, seeking to suspend the impeachment proceedings pending a review of the Phala Phala report. His legal challenge argued that the findings of the Section 89 panel, which identified prima facie evidence of possible misconduct, may have been inconsistent with the Constitution and the law.
Political parties have differed over the way forward for the inquiry, with discussions expected to continue as Parliament works towards finalising the committee’s terms of reference.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s David Skosana said the party was not surprised by the court’s decision but expressed disappointment with the outcome.
“It matters who you are,” Skosana said, raising concerns about the implications of the ruling.
Meanwhile, African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula argued that the process was not driven by political considerations, pointing out that the call for an inquiry came from independent individuals.
Zungula described the interdict as a delay but maintained that preparations for the inquiry could continue despite the court’s decision.
The African National Congress (ANC) indicated that the Phala Phala report would undergo a review in September. According to the party’s Mika Mahlaule, Parliament would be able to proceed with its work once the review process had clarified the issues surrounding the report.
Mahlaule said future parliamentary action would be guided by the findings and issues addressed during the review.
The court ruling has therefore temporarily halted the impeachment proceedings, while political parties await the review process and the next steps in Parliament’s handling of the Phala Phala matter.