{
  "id": 19810555,
  "title": "JUST IN: EFF, ALPA lose court bid over withdrawal of Phala Phala evidence leader",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/just-in-eff-alpa-lose-court-bid-over-withdrawal-of-phala-phala",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T13:02:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/eff-alpa-phala-phala-impeachment-evidence-leader/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Western Cape High Court in Cape Town has dismissed an appeal challenging the Section 89 committee's decision to remove Advocate Thandazani Griffiths Madonsela as the chief evidence leader in the Phala Phala impeachment inquiry involving President Cyril Ramaphosa. The court's ruling was issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, following a two-day hearing on October 13 and 14. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Legal Professionals Association (ALPA) had brought the lawsuit, which emerged after Ramaphosa objected to Madonsela's nomination via a letter sent on August 18, 2026. In his correspondence, the president expressed concerns about Madonsela's prior involvement, citing his legal advice to the ANC on the impeachment matter and her removal from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in 2022. These factors led the committee to withdraw its recommendation and temporarily halt the selection process for a replacement evidence leader.",
  "summary": "Parliament's decision related to the Phala Phala inquiry's evidence leader has survived a court challenge.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}