CAPE TOWN — In a defiant stance following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s legal bid to halt the Phala Phala impeachment probe, ActionSA has made it clear that the legislative process will not be derailed. The political party’s leadership insists that the Section 89 committee must continue its work, dismissing the President’s urgent court application as an expected but ultimately futile attempt to stall parliamentary oversight.
President Ramaphosa recently filed urgent papers in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town, seeking an interdict to prevent the commencement of the impeachment process. This legal maneuver is intended to pause proceedings pending the outcome of his review application against the Section 89 independent panel report.
However, ActionSA National spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni indicated that the party is entirely unsurprised by the President’s legal strategy. Ngobeni revealed that Ramaphosa had previously alerted political parties about his intentions, even convening a “family meeting” to explicitly state his opposition to the impeachment committee continuing its work.
Despite the court challenge, ActionSA maintains that the legislative mandate remains intact. Ngobeni highlighted that the Constitutional Court has already affirmed Parliament’s independent constitutional obligation to hold the executive accountable. She clarified that the Section 89 process is fundamentally an investigative mechanism, not a trial designed to find the President guilty or innocent.
Addressing the legal landscape, Ngobeni leaned on the separation of powers doctrine, noting that the judiciary is typically hesitant to interfere with unfinished parliamentary proceedings. “Parliament, the executive, and the judiciary are co-equal partners in running this country,” she explained, expressing confidence that the courts will respect this boundary and that the President’s interdict will not succeed.
Parliamentary preparations are actively continuing alongside the legal dispute. The impeachment committee is scheduled to convene on June 24 to deliberate on the terms of reference. Furthermore, the rules committee, the sub-rules committee, and the chief whips’ forum recently reviewed existing parliamentary rules this week. They are exploring potential amendments, including establishing strict criteria for the “fit and proper” individuals required to serve on the panel.
With the Speaker of Parliament named as the first respondent in the President’s court papers, ActionSA’s directive to the legislative head is uncompromising. Ngobeni confirmed that the party had formally communicated with the Speaker immediately after the court handed down its initial judgment. The party’s stance is that the Speaker must execute her constitutional mandate without fear or favor. “The Speaker does not work for the President. The Speaker is the head of Parliament, which is an accountability mechanism that must hold the executive to account,” Ngobeni asserted, adding that they will reinforce this argument to ensure the committee’s work proceeds.
ActionSA also took the opportunity to question the underlying logic of the President’s legal strategy. Ngobeni urged the South African public to reflect on Ramaphosa’s persistent claims of innocence. If he has truly done nothing wrong, she argued, it is highly curious that he would seek to block an investigative process that could ultimately vindicate him and allow citizens to judge the facts for themselves.
Beyond the parliamentary committee, ActionSA is pursuing parallel avenues to uncover the truth. Ngobeni disclosed that the party is engaging with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to compel the release of records of decision. This push aims to uncover why certain investigative steps were neglected regarding individuals who allegedly profited from the Phala Phala scandal.
Ultimately, ActionSA maintains that the pursuit of accountability is unstoppable. “The process will carry on whether or not this impeachment committee ever sits and ever gets to do its work,” Ngobeni concluded.