President Cyril Ramaphosa says he respects the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Phala Phala matter.
Image: File
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment after it ruled that Parliament’s handling of the Phala Phala matter was unconstitutional and invalid.
He reaffirmed that no person is above the law and that allegations must be subjected to due process without fear, favour, or prejudice.
“The Presidency has noted the judgment of the Constitutional Court in the case brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters challenging the National Assembly’s decision with respect to Section 89 proceedings against the President.”
“President Cyril Ramaphosa respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment and reaffirms his commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
He said Ramaphosa has been consistent in providing his full assistance to the various inquiries in the matter.
“President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice.”
He said Ramaphosa calls on all South Africans to respect the Constitutional Court judgment and all judicial institutions.
The comments follow the Constitutional Court ruling that Parliament acted unlawfully when it voted in 2022 to reject the Section 89 independent panel report into allegations linked to Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
The court found Parliament’s decision irrational and inconsistent with the Constitution, and ordered that the report be reconsidered, effectively reopening the possibility of an impeachment inquiry.
The case was brought by the EFF and the African Transformation Movement, which argued that Parliament failed in its oversight duties by closing the matter prematurely.
The ruling means Parliament must now revisit the panel’s findings and determine whether to proceed with a full impeachment inquiry.
The matter stems from a 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo, where large sums of foreign currency were allegedly stolen.
Meanwhile, political parties have welcomed the judgment, with many saying that it proves that no one is above the law.
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