The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of employing “Stalingrad” tactics in an attempt to delay impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala scandal.
The party wants the Western Cape High Court to hear Ramaphosa’s application against Parliament’s Phala Phala report in early August.
Ramaphosa has threatened to interdict Parliament’s impeachment process should it continue while his judicial review application remains before the courts.
ATM Challenges Ramaphosa’s Bid To Halt Phala Phala Proceedings
In a lawyer’s letter addressed to the President, the ATM argued that Ramaphosa was attempting to avoid being subjected to a “fair and constitutional process”.
ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula, who first tabled the impeachment motion against Ramaphosa in 2022, maintained that the President’s review application lacked merit.
The party further argued that if the impeachment committee were to suspend its work pending Ramaphosa’s court application, it could amount to contempt of the Constitutional Court order directing Parliament to establish such a committee.
According to the ATM, delaying the inquiry would also breach Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to ensure accountability.
Phala Phala Court Fight Intensifies As ATM Rejects Delay Tactics
Zungula said any attempt to interdict the proceedings of another arm of state would amount to an abuse of the courts.
He added that the President “should know better” than to interfere with the functioning of parliamentary committees before they have concluded their findings.
Zungula also insisted that the impeachment proceedings should continue regardless of Ramaphosa’s pending court challenge, adding that he believes the application is “without merit”.
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Ramaphosa has meanwhile told the court that he considers the Section 89 report to be fundamentally flawed and argued that its findings were reached unfairly.
The Times Post understands that the legal and political dispute over the Phala Phala matter is expected to remain in sharp focus as the court process unfolds.
