Ramaphosa Seeks Court Order to Halt Impeachment Probe

The Western Cape High Court is scheduled to rule on Friday, July 24, 2026, regarding an urgent application by Cyril Ramaphosa to halt a parliamentary impeachment committee. The president seeks to block the Section 89 proceedings until a review of an independent panel report is completed, with hearings for that review set for early September. The independent panel previously found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the constitution and anti-corruption laws following a 2020 burglary at his Phala Phala game farm.

Despite the pending ruling, Impeachment Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana confirmed that the committee will continue preparatory work, including witness preparation and the appointment of evidence leaders. The committee recently postponed the selection of an evidence leader after reviewing nine nominees, reopening nominations until July 24 to expand the candidate pool. Members debated potential conflicts of interest regarding senior counsel nominees and questioned the availability of certain candidates.

Internal divisions have further delayed the process as members clash over whether the president must testify in person. Opposition parties, including the MK party and EFF, argue that personal testimony is essential for accountability. In contrast, the African National Congress suggests the president could testify through a representative and argues that no adverse inferences should be drawn from his silence.