JOHANNESBURG - Legal expert Ulrich Roux believes that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest court challenge appears to be aimed at stopping impeachment proceedings against him.
Ramaphosa approached the Western Cape High Court to review and set aside sections of the independent panel report into the Phala Phala farm theft.
The panel found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious violations and misconduct linked to the 2020 burglary at his Phala Phala farm.
But Ramaphosa argues that the panel misunderstood its mandate and relied on hearsay in reaching its findings.
READ | Ramaphosa lodges application to challenge Phala Phala report
Roux said, "I think that strategically he's launched this application in order to possibly set up an urgent application preventing the National Assembly from proceeding with those impeachment proceedings."
The report, which Ramaphosa is now reviewing, forms the basis of the National Assembly's impeachment process.
It was submitted to the Speaker by the Section 89 Independent Panel led by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo.