Malema urges Speaker Didiza to oppose Ramaphosa interdict and defend Parliament

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, urging Parliament to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent court application to set aside the Section 89 Independent Panel report and to halt the impeachment inquiry.

Malema warns of harm to Parliament’s authority

In his letter, Malema said failing to oppose Ramaphosa’s application would undermine the “authority, integrity and constitutional role of the National Assembly.” He described the matter as urgent and said it required inclusive and transparent action by Parliament rather than unilateral decisions by the Speaker.

“Allowing the report to be challenged without opposition by the institution that established the process would undermine the authority, integrity and constitutional role of the National Assembly,” Malema wrote.

Didiza’s stance and the impeachment committee

The source material reports that Didiza said she would not oppose Ramaphosa’s attempt to interdict the impeachment committee from proceedings. The 31-member impeachment committee, however, resolved to oppose Ramaphosa’s application after MPs were advised by an independent legal expert.

Malema also argued that Didiza was conflicted, saying in his letter that “it would be improper for the same person who voted against the continuation of the impeachment process to unilaterally take decisions regarding legal opposition to matters arising from that very process.”

Threat of legal action and call for collective decision

Malema warned he would seek relief in court if Didiza did not respond within 48 hours, adding that continued delay risked undermining confidence in Parliament’s commitment to defend its own processes. He urged that the National Assembly must act “within the context of a multiparty democratic Parliament.”

Ramaphosa’s response and procedural developments

Ramaphosa defended Didiza’s stance, saying she is acting independently and “has to do her work” while speaking at an ANC voter registration campaign in Kwa-Thema, Ekurhuleni.

The National Assembly adopted amended rules on Tuesday to govern the work of the 31-member impeachment committee investigating allegations related to the 2020 theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm. Separately, Ramaphosa approached the Western Cape High Court seeking an urgent interdict to halt the start of an impeachment inquiry pending his review of the Section 89 panel report.