The ANC has moved to join President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court battle against Parliament’s impeachment inquiry, escalating the political stakes in a case that could determine whether proceedings arising from the Phala Phala scandal continue.
Court papers filed in the Western Cape High Court show that the ANC has applied for leave to intervene as a respondent in Ramaphosa’s application against the Speaker of the National Assembly, the chairperson of Parliament’s impeachment committee, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula, the EFF, ATM, the United Africans Transformation (UAT) and the MK Party.
The intervention application was lodged on Thursday.
“The ANC is granted leave to intervene in the application to the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town, under case number 138228/26 as the respondent,” the party states.
The move comes as Ramaphosa seeks to halt the parliamentary process established under Section 89 of the Constitution to consider whether he should face impeachment proceedings linked to the theft of foreign currency from his game farm.
The ANC’s decision to enter the litigation places the governing party directly alongside its president in a legal battle that has drawn together several opposition parties seeking to keep the parliamentary process alive.
The intervention application is the clearest indication yet that the ANC considers the outcome of the court challenge politically significant.
The latest development emerged as Parliament and the impeachment committee adopted different approaches to the litigation.
Court documents filed on Friday show that National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza will abide by the court’s decision.
In a notice filed by the state attorney, the speaker informed the court that she intended to abide by whatever decision the court ultimately reaches and would file an explanatory affidavit.
The chairperson of Parliament’s impeachment committee has taken a different route.
The committee has filed a notice of intention to oppose Ramaphosa’s application and has appointed the state attorney to represent it in the proceedings.
The divergence means the committee tasked with overseeing the impeachment process will actively defend its position before court, while the speaker has, for now, elected not to oppose the application.
The court challenge follows Parliament’s decision to establish an impeachment inquiry after an independent panel chaired by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo found there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious violations of the Constitution and the law in relation to the Phala Phala matter.
The Section 89 committee was subsequently established to investigate the allegations and determine whether grounds exist for impeachment proceedings.
Ramaphosa has launched legal proceedings aimed at stopping that process.
The EFF, ATM, MK Party and UAT are cited as respondents in the proceedings, while the ANC has now formally sought a place in the case.
The intervention application states that any party wishing to oppose the ANC’s participation may do so within ten days of the filing.
- The ANC has moved to join President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court battle against Parliament’s impeachment inquiry, escalating the political stakes in a case that could determine whether proceedings arising from the Phala Phala scandal continue.
- Court papers filed in the Western Cape High Court show that the ANC has applied for leave to intervene as a respondent in Ramaphosa’s application against the Speaker of the National Assembly, the chairperson of Parliament’s impeachment committee, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula, the EFF, ATM, the United Africans Transformation (UAT) and the MK Party.
- The intervention application was lodged on Thursday.
- “The ANC is granted leave to intervene in the application to the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town, under case number 138228/26 as the respondent,” the party states.
- The move comes as Ramaphosa seeks to halt the parliamentary process established under Section 89 of the Constitution to consider whether he should face impeachment proceedings linked to the theft of foreign currency from his game farm.
Court papers filed in the Western Cape High Court show that the ANC has applied for leave to intervene as a respondent in Ramaphosa’s application against the Speaker of the National
“
Court documents filed on Friday show that National
In a notice filed by the state attorney, the speaker informed the court that she intended to abide by whatever decision the court ultimately reaches and would file an explanatory affidavit.
Ramaphosa has launched legal proceedings aimed at stopping that process.
