President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation of South Africa, on Monday evening, regarding a judgment handed down by the Constitutional Court on Friday last week.
In the judgement, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya ruled that the National Assembly’s December 2022 vote to reject the Section 89 panel report on the Phala Phala farm theft was unconstitutional and invalid.
The court found the vote was based on a “material error of the law.”
This judgment, was brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), who are vocal about the President’s impeachment and resignation.
But the Section 89 Independent Panel report released in 2022 on the Phala Phala farm scandal, found evidence that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have committed serious violations of the constitution.
Ramaphosa said the Constitutional Court found that certain aspects of the National Assembly rules that govern the process for the removal of the President from office are inconsistent with the Constitution.
He said he accepts and respects the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
“I reiterate my firm commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.”
In addition, the President said he was advised by his legal team that the panel report was capable of being reviewed by a court of law on several grounds, including the misconception of its mandate, grave errors of law and unfounded conclusions of fact.
Picture: Supplied