A legal expert sees a long way to go as President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that he will challenge the report of the team appointed by Parliament to investigate the theft of US dollars from his farm, Phala Phala.
An expert from Donda Attorneys, Mr. Melusi Xulu, said that the plan to remove Ramaphosa from office may undermine the filing of an application challenging the report of the team led by former judge, Sandile Ngcobo.
Xulu said that Ramaphosa may put in a block that will stop the continuation of the Parliament’s plan to remove him from office.
Ramaphosa announced that he will challenge the report which found that there may be laws he was breaking in handling the issue of money theft from his farm.
In his address to the country, Ramaphosa stated that he will not resign from office.
Ramaphosa said he respects the court’s decision but said the report of the team commissioned by Parliament was flawed.
“I have decided to challenge the team’s report. I am not doing this because I am disrespecting the committee, but I am doing this because I believe there are mistakes in the team’s report.”
Ramaphosa said the team’s report was full of unsubstantiated material.
“This is all hearsay contained in the team’s report.”
Xulu said it may take a long time for the court to decide on the application that will be submitted by Ramaphosa.
“It may take months or a year. Remember that if the case is to be filed in the high court, if it does not go as he wishes, he may go to the court of appeals. He may even go to the Constitutional Court. You will remember that the EFF’s request was heard in 2024 but the decision came out in 2026. Therefore, it is difficult to say how long the case will take.”
Xulu said the plan to remove Ramaphosa from office will continue if he does not impose a court order.
“If he does not file a court order, they will continue what they are doing. He will have to file a request to block the continuation of the plan to remove him from office. If he does not do that, he will say that he will continue in court and they will continue this way.”
Political parties want the process to remove Ramaphosa from office to continue despite challenging the report of the team.
IFP spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, said Parliament should continue its work.
“The process of removing the President from office is a function of Parliament that should not be stopped because a case has been filed. The process should continue along with the case.”
EFF spokesperson, Mr. Sinawo Thambo, said that they had already expected that Ramaphosa would challenge the report.
“He has no conscience. We expect the Speaker (Mrs Thoko Didiza) to oppose Ramaphosa’s request. We will also oppose Ramaphosa’s request. What made him wait so long to challenge the court’s decision. Parliament should continue with its plans. Parliament’s plans should not be stopped by Ramaphosa’s request.”