By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa had requested from the court that his impeachment process be halted until the court finalises a separate application by the President for a review of an independent panel report regarding an incident at the President’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo.

According to the spokesperson to the Presidency there is emphasis that the president maintains full commitment when it comes to taking accountability under the rule of law. Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee chairperson has also noted that the court has put a halt to public hearings.

Gana continued to specify that the committee will study the judgment fully in order to establish whether processing evidence or configuring framework rules are allowed to legally continue while the public phase remains on hold.

The ANC vehemently approve of the court ruling as they claim that this reaffirms the constitutional rights of the President and has also urged other political parties the judiciaries decision and to refrain from politically motivated criticism.

 The ANC has also continued to affirm their respect towards the independence of the judiciary. The Democratic Alliance (DA) have come forward to emphasize that this ruling does not clear the president of any wrongdoing whatsoever and in extension does not determine whether the allegations are true or not.

The leader of the DA Geordin Hill-Lewis has come forward stating that the ruling only established the procedural sequence between judicial and parliamentary processes. The DA still believe that public accountability must remain a priority from the President despite their acknowledgment of Ramaphosa’s constitutional rights.

 The DA has also requested that the court give an immediate conclusion to the legal deadlock and have called on the judiciary to grant priority court dates. The DA have also urged parliament to still continue with their preparations while the court conducts their judiciary review.

ActionSA have expressed their concerns over the court ruling with a fear that this may delay accountability from the president.

 Parliamentary Chief Whip of ActionSA Lerato Ngobeni has said that the party holds respect towards the independence of the judiciary but also continues to emphasise that this decision may halt the accountability that needs to come from the president. The party has also noted that the dissenting judgment argued that Ramaphosa had failed to establish a valid basis for the interim relief that he requested.