By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza filed notice not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s interdict application against the impeachment process.
Ramaphosa filed papers in the Western Cape High Court on Friday last week, seeking an interdict against Didiza and Impeachment Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana.
The president wants the committee barred from commencing the impeachment inquiry pending the decision on his review application regarding the Section 89 Independent Panel report.
“I have attempted to persuade the Speaker and the Chairperson of the Impeachment Committee that, while the necessary preliminary steps should continue to be taken, the inquiry itself should not commence until the review application has been determined. Those attempts have not been successful,” Ramaphosa said.
The review application has been set down for September 2 to 4, 2026.
In her affidavit, Didiza says she will abide by the decision before the Western Cape High Court and she will file her explanatory affidavit before the 22nd of June 2026.
This comes after the committee chairperson, Makashule Gana, said that the committee not only resolved to oppose the urgent application, but that they have also resolved to request the Speaker of the National Assembly to join the committee in opposing the interdict.
The matter is scheduled to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on July 15 and 16, 2026.
The committee will go ahead with their meeting on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, in which they will consider their draft terms of reference and the process of appointing evidence leaders.
The African National Congress (ANC) has also filed a notice to intervene in the matter launched by the president, after the High Court granted an order by agreement admitting the MK Party’s application in the same matter.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary leader George Michalakis said they suggested that the names proposed by political parties to form the Impeachment Committee should not only be sent to the Speaker, but also be subjected to MPs’ approval.
This follows the Rules Committee’s deliberations regarding the “fit and proper” requirement for MPs serving on the Committee.
Political parties have been working on amending the Section 89 House rules in line with a Constitutional Court order, as the Impeachment Committee prepares to start probing the storage and theft of US dollars from Ramaphosa’s farm, Phala Phala.
Didiza expressed concern about a “fit and proper” requirement for MPs serving on an Impeachment Committee and sent it back to the rules sub-committee to refine the proposal and come up with a definition.
However, after a more detailed presentation on Friday, Didiza was still not satisfied, saying all the shortcomings had not been addressed.
“It will still remain subjective. It also doesn’t deal with a dispute resolution mechanism.”
With the Impeachment Committee already established, and the proposed rule not having a retrospective impact, Didiza said there was no need to rush its inclusion.