THERE are MORE people challenging the court’s decision that halts the work of the Parliamentary committee that is running the plan to remove the President, Cyril Ramaphosa, as the committee has also decided to challenge the court’s decision.
The committee decided to challenge the decision of the Western Cape High Court at a meeting held in Parliament yesterday.
The committee joins the three political parties challenging the court’s decision namely ATM, EFF and MKP.
Committee members were divided on challenging the court’s decision.
14 members voted for the committee to challenge the court’s decision, while 13 voted against challenging the court’s decision.
Members opposed to challenging the court’s decision said it was unlikely to succeed.
A member of the committee, Mr. Xola Nqola, said it is a tall order to challenge the temporary ban.
The chairman of the committee, Mr. Makashule Gana, said the lawyers advised him that there is no need for them to challenge the court’s decision.
Gana said that appealing the court’s decision will take time.
A member of the committee, Mr. Nhlanhla Hadebe, said that instead of appealing the court’s decision, the committee should make preliminary preparations for the hearing of evidence.
“The court’s decision does not prevent us from making preparations, only the court’s decision prevents us from listening to the evidence. Preparing to listen to the evidence will take a long time. Maybe we will finish the preparations after the cases have been completed.”
Another member of the committee, Mr. Cameron Dugmore, complained that some members are using the committee to fight political battles.
“Other committee members should stop dragging us into their wars. We went to court to oppose Ramaphosa’s request. The court issued its decision. What will we now repeat in court? What makes it difficult for us to accept the court’s decision. We can’t be drawn into political party wars.”
But some members of the committee said it was important to pass the decision.
Mr. Vuyo Zungula, said that not challenging the decision will make the Parliament no longer able to do its job.
Zungula said that all the people who are called to appear before the Parliament will immediately run to the courts.
Zungula said that if they do not challenge the court’s decision, Ramaphosa will continue to delay.
“The case he filed when he wants the report of the Parliamentary team to be dismissed will take a long time. It is possible that the decision will come out next year. Again, if the court dismisses him, he will move forward to another court.”
ATM filed papers in the Constitutional Court challenging the court’s decision.
The EFF and MKP have also announced that they will be part of the ATM request.