ANC denies ‘climbdown’, says Phala Phala court posture was legal sequencing not presidential order

The African National Congress (ANC) has rejected reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a reversal of the party’s position in the Section 89 Phala Phala court matter, saying its change of posture was a collective, procedural decision taken on legal advice.

Party rejects reports of a ‘fracas’ and presidential instruction

The remarks follow weekend reports that Ramaphosa personally instructed the ANC to abandon its intervention in his review application challenging the Section 89 Independent Panel Report into the Phala Phala scandal. The reports said the president was angered after learning the party had filed an urgent application to intervene in his bid to interdict Parliament’s impeachment committee.

ANC: orderly legal sequencing

In response, ANC acting spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli said the party “rejects this characterisation in the strongest terms.” She told reporters the ANC had acted on counsel’s advice, initially filing a protective notice to preserve options before resolving to participate only as amicus curiae.

“The earlier protective notice was accordingly withdrawn. This is orderly legal sequencing on the advice of counsel; it is not a reversal, and it is certainly not a ‘climbdown’,” Mhlauli said.

“There was no fracas, no climbdown, and no improper instruction.”

Collective decision-making and Speaker Didiza

Mhlauli emphasised that ANC decisions are collective, saying: “To suggest otherwise is to manufacture division where none exists.” She also defended National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, stating that the Speaker “has acted impartially and within the constitutional obligations of her office.”

Didiza’s stance and criticism

The source material notes that Didiza has already decided not to oppose Ramaphosa’s review, a position that has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Didiza has criticised misinformation about her handling of the impeachment proceedings, saying she complied with all constitutional court directives.

The ANC said it remains united and focused on its work, dismissing narratives it described as engineered to suggest disunity at its highest level.