Ramaphosa Moves to Halt Impeachment Inquiry Proceedings

President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched an urgent court application in a bid to stop Parliament’s impeachment inquiry from going ahead while a separate legal challenge is still being heard.

According to the application, Ramaphosa wants the National Assembly and its impeachment committee barred from starting any impeachment proceedings until the courts have dealt with a review application already before them. The move effectively seeks to pause Parliament’s process on the grounds that it should not continue while the related case remains unresolved.

The president has filed the papers in the High Court in Cape Town, where the matter is expected to be considered urgently. The court will now have to decide whether the impeachment inquiry should be suspended pending the outcome of the broader review case.

The legal move comes as Parliament prepares to deal with matters linked to testimony in the Phala Phala saga. Committees in Parliament were due to meet over the testimony of Rhoode, with the issue remaining central to the ongoing political and legal scrutiny surrounding the president.

Ramaphosa’s application is aimed at preventing the impeachment process from taking a further step before the courts have had an opportunity to rule on the underlying review application. If successful, the order would delay the work of the National Assembly’s impeachment committee and halt any immediate movement toward formal proceedings.

The case adds another layer to the long-running controversy around the Phala Phala matter, which has already triggered significant debate in both political and legal circles. The president’s decision to approach the High Court underscores the seriousness with which he is contesting the parliamentary process.

The outcome now rests with the court, which must determine whether there is sufficient reason to stop Parliament from proceeding while the legal review remains active. If the application is granted, the impeachment inquiry would be put on hold. If it is dismissed, Parliament could continue with its process.

The case is being closely watched because it sits at the intersection of constitutional law, parliamentary oversight, and political accountability. Ramaphosa’s urgent bid reflects an effort to secure judicial intervention before lawmakers advance further with the inquiry.

For now, the impeachment process remains under legal challenge, and the High Court’s decision will determine whether Parliament can proceed immediately or must wait until the separate review application has been finalized.