Opposition parties have reacted strongly to Friday’s Constitutional Court judgment on an impeachment inquiry over the Phala Phala scandal, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) demanding an immediate impeachment committee, while ActionSA called the ruling a victory for accountability, as opposition parties prepare to test the parameters of the Seventh Parliament.

On Friday, the Constitutional court ruled that the decision of the National Assembly not to refer the report of the Independent Panel on whether President Cyril 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, opening the way for impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa.

EFF national chairperson and parliamentary chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu wrote to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza after the judgment demanding clear timelines to establish an impeachment committee.

The party argued that the previous decision by the National Assembly to block the investigation was “unconstitutional” and that the report must be processed, noting that any further delay was an “abrogation of Parliament’s duties”.

The EFF, which brought the case, said the judgment was a decisive victory for constitutional accountability and said it confirmed what the party had maintained from the onset of the scandal: “that the institutions of the State, including Parliament, were manipulated to protect Cyril Ramaphosa from scrutiny and accountability for conduct that would have destroyed the political career of any ordinary citizen.”

“We, therefore, declare this a significant victory for us, the people of South Africa and our democracy. We now call for the immediate implementation of the Constitutional Court judgment and the reinstatement of all constitutional accountability processes against President Cyril Ramaphosa,” the party said.

The EFF stated that despite alleged attempts by the African National Congress (ANC), Parliament, and State institutions to bury the scandal, constitutional accountability had prevailed.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont welcomed the judgment, also declaring it a “victory” for South Africans.

Beaumont noted that with the ANC no longer holding an absolute majority, Parliament could now hold Ramaphosa accountable.

ActionSA called on members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) who had previously remained silent on the issue to now demonstrate commitment to accountability.

GNU partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it would “participate fully and constructively” in the impeachment committee, vowing that it would not shield wrongdoing.

“… we will never be party to protecting misconduct, covering up corruption, or weakening accountability for political convenience.

“Those who hold the highest offices in the land must be held to the highest standards of honesty, transparency and accountability,” said new DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Hill-Lewis said the judgment also drew a clear line between the DA and the ANC.

“For too long, the ANC has presided over a political culture in which accountability is delayed, diluted or avoided when it becomes inconvenient,” he stated.

He added that this was a “grave moment for Parliament, for the Presidency, and for South Africa’s constitutional democracy”.

He said Ramaphosa must have the opportunity to account fully to the committee.

Hill-Lewis noted that Parliament must have the opportunity to establish the facts, and that South Africans must have confidence that their institutions were acting without fear, favour or prejudice.

“This judgment has implications beyond any one President. It will shape how Parliament holds all future Presidents accountable. That is why the DA will approach this process with the seriousness, discipline and constitutional responsibility it demands,” he said.

Meanwhile, GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron labelled the Court’s ruling as another setback for public trust in political representatives.

“The matter will cast a deep shadow over local government elections later this year,” he warned.

He believes that parliamentarians shutting down the report and the President electing not to review it left the door open for the EFF to approach the Constitutional Court.

“If the President has a complete set of answers to the questions about what transpired on his farm, and after the alleged break in, he has nothing to lose from a parliamentary impeachment process (besides short-term embarrassment) and everything to gain from public transparency. If he is impeached, it will define his legacy,” he said.