President Cyril Ramaphosa's legal team has argued against proceeding with impeachment hearings, warning of 'irreparable' damage to his reputation if the process continues.

Adv Wim Trengrove contended that putting the president on trial would cause significant public humiliation and reputational harm, drawing parallels to former President Nelson Mandela's 1998 rugby union case.Judge Matthew Francis challenged the argument by noting Mandela faced no such humiliation during his testimony.

The legal battle centers on whether an interim order should halt parliamentary proceedings pending a review of an independent panel's report, which found prima facie evidence of constitutional violations linked to the Phala Phala game farm scandal.

Parliament's lawyer, Adv William Mokhare, defended the Constitutional Court's mandate, insisting the impeachment inquiry must proceed despite the legal challenge.The case highlights tensions between executive privilege and parliamentary oversight in South Africa's political landscape.