The ruling effectively buys more time for Ramaphosa - time in which the president hopes he will be able to clear his name. In court his legal team had argued that not halting the impeachment committee's work until his other case was ruled on could cause him irreparable reputational harm. The majority judgement means that until his other case is heard and finalised the impeachment proceedings cannot continue. The president released a statement shortly after Friday's ruling saying he noted and "respects" the court's decision. While the ANC welcomed the ruling and urged other parties to "refrain from politically motivated distortions" as the legal process unfolded.