The Democratic Alliance (DA) has issued a firm call to ensure that President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to review the Section 89 Panel report does not derail parliamentary accountability.
In a statement released on May 11,2026, Geordin Hill-Lewis, a leader within the Democratic Alliance, emphasized that while the President has a legal right to approach the High Court, the judicial process must not be used as a tactic to stall the work of Parliament.
A call for expedited legal proceedings
"President Ramaphosa should bring any review application with due haste and on an expedited basis," Hill-Lewis stated. He argued that the legal position must be clarified swiftly to prevent unnecessary delays in addressing the serious allegations at hand.
The DA maintains that while they respect due process and the rule of law, the gravity of the findings requires immediate attention rather than prolonged litigation.
Seeking clarity on the impeachment committee
The Section 89 Panel report has sparked significant political friction, leading the DA to demand that Parliament seek immediate legal counsel. The party is calling for clarity on how the President's judicial review impacts the establishment and proceedings of the impeachment committee.
Specifically, the DA is seeking to determine whether the review legally halts parliamentary action and whether the impeachment committee may proceed while the court case is underway.
Transparency and public confidence
Given the serious constitutional consequences and the intense public interest surrounding the matter, the DA has insisted that Parliament be transparent. Hill-Lewis called on the governing body to take the South African public into its confidence by sharing the legal advice it receives as soon as it becomes available.
An ANC-made crisis
The DA's statement further characterized the situation as an ANC-made crisis, citing what they describe as the African National Congress's long record of shielding its leaders from accountability. The party reiterated its commitment to the Constitution, maintaining that the matter must be handled with the highest level of transparency and legal seriousness.
This remains an ANC-made crisis, rooted in serious unanswered questions about the President's conduct, the statement concluded.
As the legal and political battle unfolds, the focus remains on whether Parliament will proceed with impeachment inquiries or wait for the High Court's ruling on the Section 89 report.