President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an urgent application with the Western Cape High Court seeking to halt the National Assembly’s impeachment inquiry process, as confirmed by court records on 15 June 2026. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which has been pressing for accountability over the Phala Phala report and other alleged misconduct, formally notified the Speaker of its intention to file a motion of no confidence in President Ramaphosa and has requested this vote be conducted by secret ballot.

MK Party’s Legal And Parliamentary Actions

The MKP submitted a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly on 15 May 2026, calling for an urgent debate on the Constitutional Court’s finding that Parliament’s handling of the Phala Phala report was unconstitutional, according to official parliamentary correspondence. On 9 May 2026, the MKP gave notice of its intention to file a no-confidence motion, further demanding that votes be cast in secret to protect MPs’ independence. MKP representative Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi said, “The MK Party is calling for a secret ballot because members of Parliament must be allowed to vote according to their conscience, without fear, without intimidation and certainly without political pressure from the party structures,” speaking in an interview with SABC News.

Broader Political Context And Why It Matters

The MKP’s actions follow a Constitutional Court ruling that Parliament’s previous handling of the Phala Phala matter was unlawful, a decision that has intensified scrutiny over Ramaphosa’s leadership. MKP National Chairperson Colleen Makhubele, speaking during a party media briefing, cited failures in accountability and alleged links to corruption as grounds for their motion, stating, “The citizens have lost confidence in the president.” The impeachment committee within the National Assembly has decided to oppose Ramaphosa’s court application, according to parliamentary records dated 18 June 2026, setting the stage for a potentially significant confrontation over presidential accountability.

The High Court is expected to consider Ramaphosa’s application, while Parliament debates MKP’s no-confidence motion and the legal repercussions of the Constitutional Court’s judgement in the coming weeks.