IN CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAM JETHRO MPOFU-Researcher and Teaching and Learning Coordinator at the Wits Centre for WiCDS
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uMkhonto WeSizwe Party Parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe says the urgent interdict application by President Cyril Ramaphosa to halt Parliament’s Impeachment Committee is a waste of the court’s time.
Speaking outside the Western Cape High Court, Hlophe levelled several sharp criticisms against the President's legal maneuver: Hlophe argued that a lower court has no authority to interfere with or interdict a process already directed by the apex court. He noted that once the Constitutional Court rules on a matter, its jurisdiction is final and no lower court can override it. He accused Ramaphosa of deliberately failing to cite political parties represented in the National Assembly in his court papers. Hlophe claimed this exclusion was designed to slow down the system by forcing parties to independently apply for leave to intervene. The MK Party maintains that the Parliamentary process—tied to the Section 89 Independent Panel report—must proceed without delays to hold the President accountable. They have also rejected any requests from Ramaphosa for extensions to provide written replies to Parliament's committee
Speaking outside the Western Cape High Court, Hlophe levelled several sharp criticisms against the President's legal maneuver: Hlophe argued that a lower court has no authority to interfere with or interdict a process already directed by the apex court. He noted that once the Constitutional Court rules on a matter, its jurisdiction is final and no lower court can override it. He accused Ramaphosa of deliberately failing to cite political parties represented in the National Assembly in his court papers. Hlophe claimed this exclusion was designed to slow down the system by forcing parties to independently apply for leave to intervene. The MK Party maintains that the Parliamentary process—tied to the Section 89 Independent Panel report—must proceed without delays to hold the President accountable. They have also rejected any requests from Ramaphosa for extensions to provide written replies to Parliament's committee
