Ramaphosa

President Ramaphosa opts not to legally challenge the Section 89 report. Image: Rolf Schulten/ullstein bild & Janine Schmitz/Photothek

Ramaphosa opts not to challenge the section 89 Phala Phala report

Cyril Ramaphosa has opted not to challenge the ‘moot’ section 89 report which called for his impeachment over the Phala Phala saga.

Ramaphosa

President Ramaphosa opts not to legally challenge the Section 89 report. Image: Rolf Schulten/ullstein bild & Janine Schmitz/Photothek

President Cyril Ramaphosa will no longer challenge the Section 89 report in court, which called for his impeachment over Phala Phala, as Parliament has dealt with the matter.

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Ramaphosa will not challenge Phala Phala report

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the parliamentary process in December rendered any legal process moot.

Opposition political parties had tried to revive the motion after the report was rejected by the ANC in Parliament, but failed.

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Magwenya said Ramaphosa had noted the decision of the Constitutional Court in March in which it refused to hear his application.

Ramaphosa took the matter directly to the Constitutional Court because he felt the matter belonged there. Magwenya said Ramaphosa respects the court’s decision not to hear the case.

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No need for legal action

However, the president was advised there was no basis to continue with the legal challenge of the Section 89 report because Parliament had rejected the establishment of an impeachment committee.

Magwenya said Ramaphosa may still pursue the legal option if the need arose.

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“The decision that was taken by the National Assembly to reject the motion to refer the panel report to an impeachment committee renders that report moot. As I have said it is of no practical or legal consequence at the moment for as long as that decision still stands. As I have indicated the president does reserve his right to bring such proceedings in due course should circumstances change,”

said Magwenya.

He added that Ramaphosa had obtained legal advice on this matter and agreed that there was no basis to continue with the court application to challenge the report.

Ramaphosa
The entrance to the wildlife Ranch of South African President, Phala Phala Wildlife Farm in Bela Bela, South Africa. Ramaphosa could face criminal charges and is already facing calls to step down over claims that he tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars in U.S. currency that was hidden inside furniture at his game farm. Image: AP Photos

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The Phala Phala report

The panel, chaired by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, was established by Parliament to determine if Ramaphosa had a case to answer.

In its findings the panel called for the impeachment process to be instituted.

But the majority of parliamentarians voted against the report.

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