CAPE TOWN - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) believes a complaint by President Cyril Ramaphosa prompted the decision to rescind Griffiths Madonsela’s appointment as evidence leader for Parliament’s Impeachment Committee.
The party is challenging the committee’s decision to reverse its initial nomination, arguing that the move was irrational and unlawful.
The matter is being heard over two days at the Western Cape High Court.
Speaking on behalf of the EFF, the party’s lawyer, Advocate Mfesane ka-Siboto, argued that there was no legal basis for reversing the original decision.
He contended that even if the committee had the authority to rescind the appointment, it exercised that power irrationally.
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“The EFF’s contention is this: that, one, it’s an irrational and unlawful decision to the extent that there is no basis in law to rescind its initial decision. And even if there is basis as a matter of law, it is one that was taken irrationally.
“Second, to the extent they did have such power, they took the decision irrationally. All that simply happened is that the president complained.
“That’s the upshot of our contention, that there is nothing that changed factually that warrants the deviation. The change factually is that the president complained.
“And we are saying, for that reason, it’s a decision that is taken capriciously and in bad faith, and we say that cautiously.”
The matter continues in the Western Cape High Court.
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