Parties disappointed with impeachment proceedings halt court ruling

uMkhonto weSizwe Party Member of Parliament Andile Mngxitama says the party is disappointed by the Western Cape High Court's decision to halt impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Western Cape High Court has interdicted Parliament's Impeachment Committee from continuing with its public hearings into the Phala Phala matter. Mngxitama argues that the ruling is yet another example of the judiciary shielding the President from accountability.

Meanwhile, the EFF says it's shocked, but not surprised, by the judgment. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament Nontando Nolutshungu claims Ramaphosa has a history of avoiding accountability, citing the Bosasa and Phala Phala controversies. The reaction follows the President's victory in the Western Cape High Court, where the court granted an order halting the impeachment process.

Ramaphosa had asked the court to suspend the parliamentary process for at least three months while he pursues a review of the Section 89 Independent Panel report. The panel previously found that there was sufficient evidence for him to answer allegations relating to the theft of foreign currency from his Phala Phala farm. uMkhonto weSizwe Party MP Andile Mngxitama says, "Well, we are disappointed, but it's not unexpected.

The judiciary has consistently protected Mr Ramaphosa. We all know about his R1 billion, which is undisclosed from his donors. Now, that theme continues as we see today.

Remember, the argument that he's making is a very silly one, that his reputation will be harmed by appearing before the impeachment committee. "Now, if he has nothing to hide, why should his reputation be affected? If he is not guilty of stuffing his furniture with dollars which have not been accounted for, why is he afraid to come before the impeachment committee? This is a delaying tactic, and it's highly disappointing that the judges would accept the argument that his reputation would be negatively affected, and therefore grant his request for a stay of this matter, adds Mngxitama.

VIDEO | Reaction to ruling halting impeachment process EFF Chief Whip Nontando Nolutshungu says they are shocked by the court ruling. Nolutshungu says, "We are shocked but not surprised because this has been the pattern. Remember we're dealing here with someone who is avoiding accountability.

If you go back, you will notice that the President himself denied that his son was involved in the Bosasa deal. Later on, he came back; he admitted. Then again, Mohammed, the guy who has got a lot of money, nobody knows where he gets it from, was seen with the President, and the President denied knowing him. "But at the end, he came back, and he agreed that he knows the man.

Then it was the Phala Phala; it is the same story: he denies, and then he accepts that, yes, he sold the buffalo, but the money was kept under the mattresses. Why? We don't know.

So here we're dealing with someone who's really avoiding accountability. So it is a pattern, and we're going to study the judgment and see how we then move forward.