By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has responded to media reports detailing deep internal conflict regarding Phala Phala impeachment battle in Parliament.
According to the report, president Cyril Ramaphosa personally instructed the ANC to abandon its intervention in his review application challenging the Section 89 Independent Panel Report into the Phala Phala scandal.
The other report states friction escalated to a near physical altercation at a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting between national Chairperson Gwede Mantashe and Mondli Gungubele.
The ANC filed a notice withdrawing its application to intervene directly in the court interdict to stop Parliament’s impeachment hearings.
The interdict case will essentially determine whether the president can delay his impeachment hearing, possibly for years if appeals are considered, and avoid tough and potentially embarrassing and damaging questions regarding his response to the theft of at least $580,000 from his Phala Phala farm in 2020.
In November 2022, the Section 89 panel report found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution and committed serious misconduct, saying there was a deliberate intention not to investigate the theft openly.
The ANC used its majority in Parliament at the time to ensure report didn’t lead to an impeachment hearing, but in May 2026, the Constitutional Court ruled that the National Assembly’s December 2022 vote was irrational, unconstitutional and invalid. It also struck down Rule 129I that let MPs override the panel’s recommendations.
As a result, the National Assembly was compelled to establish a formal impeachment committee to investigate the allegations further.
The interdict hearing is scheduled to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on July 15 and 16, 2026.
In a statement, “the ANC said, on the advice of the senior counsel, the National Working Committee (NWC) resolved that the party may only participate as a friend of the court (amicus curiae) on procedural questions and not taking the position whatsoever in the merits of the case.”
“It must also be clearly be said, the decisions of the ANC are taken collectively, through its duly constituted structures.”
“The ANC is united and focused on the work the people gave entrusted with, read the statement.”
Ramaphosa said he believed the Section 89 panel report had relied on hearsay evidence and was fundamentally flawed.
The Western Cape High Court has scheduled the review application to be heard between 2-4 September, with opposing parties required to file notices of motion by 7 July.