The Section 89 Impeachment Committee met on Wednesday to deliberate on the Western Cape High Court ruling delivered last Friday, and resolved to appeal to the Constitutional Court to challenge the interdict.

The High Court had granted President Cyril Ramaphosa an urgent interim interdict, successfully halting Parliament’s impeachment proceedings against him.

Ramaphosa’s legal team previously argued that the process should be suspended until the court finalises a separate review regarding the Independent Panel's report on the Phala Phala game farm scandal.

In response, Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana confirmed that Parliament’s Legal Services Division briefed members on the judgment's implications.

Following this briefing, the committee instructed its legal team to immediately prepare and file appeal papers.

The committee also resolved that the members of the Independent Panel who authored the report will not be required to appear before it, as the panel’s mandate concluded with the submission of its report.

Instead, upcoming evidence leaders will be tasked with guiding committee members through the existing text and gathered evidence.

Gana explained that while the committee aimed to finalise its administrative framework on Wednesday, extensive debates derailed the schedule.

Members failed to conclude discussions on nominations for the appointment of evidence leaders and the draft terms of reference designed to guide the formal enquiry.

Gana stated that owing to the length of member contributions, the committee will reconvene next week to clear the backlog.

The inquiry is scheduled to continue its deliberations on Wednesday and Friday.

The committee aims to secure evidence leaders and establish terms of reference during these sessions, maintaining its mandate despite the pending appellate battle.