Responding to Friday’s Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruling, which opens the way for impeachment proceedings against him, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the court’s judgment should be respected.

The ConCourt ruled that the decision of the National Assembly not to refer the report of the Independent Panel on whether Ramaphosa should be impeached or not, to a Parliamentary impeachment committee, to be invalid.

The ConCourt ruled that the National Assembly must refer the Section 89 Independent Panel report to an impeachment committee. The case was brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters.

The Presidency said it had noted the judgment and said Ramaphosa “respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment and reaffirms his commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law”.

It added that the President had been “consistent” in cooperating with enquiries into the matter.

“President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice,” the Presidency said.