ANC WELCOMES HIGH COURT INTERDICT HALTING PHALA PHALA SECTION 89 IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
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CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE – The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed the judgment delivered by the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town, which granted President Cyril Ramaphosa an interim interdict to stay Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment inquiry.
The ruling pauses the National Assembly's impeachment committee proceedings into the Phala Phala matter pending the final determination of the President’s judicial review of the Section 89 Independent Panel report, scheduled to be heard in September 2026.
Protection of Constitutional Rights and Due Process
In its response to the ruling, the ANC reiterated its respect for the independence of the judiciary, affirming that the judgment upholds the fundamental principle that all citizens—including the sitting President—are entitled to seek legal remedies:
Judicial Independence: The ruling confirms that invoking court processes to test the lawfulness, rationality, and procedural fairness of state reports does not equate to evading public accountability.
Unencumbered Review: Pausing the parliamentary proceedings ensures the High Court can evaluate the legal merits of the Section 89 Panel Report without parallel processes creating procedural conflicts.
Role of Parliament Preserved: The ANC noted that the interdict does not diminish Parliament's constitutional oversight role, but rather provides a fair legal window for the President to prosecute his review application under the law.
Call for Compliance and Separation of Powers
Reaffirming its commitment to constitutionalism, separation of powers, and the rule of law, the governing party called on all parliamentary parties and political actors to respect the court's decision.
"The ANC calls on all parties to respect the judgment, refrain from politically motivated distortions and allow the remaining legal processes to unfold without interference... No person is above the law. Equally, no person should be denied the protection of the law or subjected to a predetermined political outcome." — African National Congress Statement
The party indicated it will study the full written judgment in detail before issuing further comprehensive political comments as the September review date approaches.
This report details the legal arguments, jurisdictional debates, and constitutional questions surrounding President Ramaphosa's Section 89 interdict application in the Western Cape High Court.
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