President Cyril Ramaphosa's legal team has argued that proceeding with the impeachment inquiry committee's proceedings could cause irreparable harm to his reputation and public standing.

Adv Wim Trengove, representing the president, seeks an interim interdict to halt the inquiry pending a review of an independent panel's report which found prima facie evidence of potential constitutional violations related to the Phala Phala game farm scandal.The panel, led by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, investigated allegations of $538,000 in stolen funds from the farm in 2020.

Trengove warned that if the inquiry proceeds and the report is deemed invalid, Ramaphosa could face severe reputational damage, loss of presidential benefits, and lifelong disqualification from public office.The court's judge, Matthew Francis, questioned the claim of humiliation, citing Nelson Mandela's trial in 1998.Trengove countered that the legal process remains significant and should not be taken lightly.

The case highlights tensions between parliamentary authority and executive rights, with the Constitutional Court's order binding all parties involved.The outcome could set a precedent for future presidential accountability mechanisms.