The Section 89 Impeachment Committee is set to approach the Constitutional Court in an effort to overturn a High Court ruling that halted its impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The move comes after the Western Cape High Court granted Ramaphosa an interim interdict preventing the committee from continuing with its proceedings while his legal challenge against the impeachment process is being heard.
The committee argues that the ruling has effectively suspended Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibilities and is seeking a Constitutional Court order allowing the inquiry to resume.
The impeachment inquiry was established by Parliament to investigate whether the President committed serious violations of the Constitution or the law, following findings by an independent panel that there was prima facie evidence warranting further investigation.
Committee members believe the High Court’s decision undermines Parliament’s constitutional mandate to hold the President accountable. They maintain that the impeachment process should continue despite the President’s pending review application.
Ramaphosa, however, has argued that allowing the inquiry to proceed before the courts have ruled on the legality of the independent panel’s report could cause irreparable harm if the report is ultimately declared unlawful.
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