/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has applied to the Constitutional Court for the report of the Section 89
independent panel to be reviewed, declared unlawful and set aside.

Some of the key points from the President’s Founding Affidavit are that the panel:

1. MISUNDERSTOOD ITS MANDATE

§ According to Parliament’s rules, the panel is meant to determine whether there is “sufficient evidence” to justify an impeachment process. Instead of doing this, the panel merely sought to establish that there is prima facie case for the President to answer.

§ The panel overlooked the fact that Parliament’s rules confine “serious misconduct” and a “serious violation of the Constitution” to deliberate misconduct by the President acting in bad faith.

2. ACCEPTED UNLAWFULLY OBTAINED EVIDENCE AND HEARSAY

§ The panel is required by the laws of evidence to exclude information that is obtained unlawfully or that is hearsay. All of the information submitted to the panel by the ATM, mainly in the form of statements by Arthur Fraser, takes the form of allegations, speculation and hearsay. The panel accepted this information without question.

Full Summary Review Application and Stamped Notice of Motion and Founding Evidence Attached

Issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa