Political parties in Parliament have begun naming Members of Parliament who will serve on the Section 89 impeachment committee that will investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala matter.
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As Parliament moves to establish the Section 89 impeachment committee to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal, the ANC and EFF have come under scrutiny for failing to name their MPs to the high-stakes panel.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza recently announced the establishment of a 31-member committee following a Constitutional Court ruling that found Parliament’s previous handling of the impeachment process was unlawful and required the matter to be reconsidered under proper procedure.
The committee will determine whether there are sufficient grounds for an inquiry into alleged violations linked to the Phala Phala farm scandal, which relates to the theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm in 2020 and subsequent questions over how the matter was handled. The President has denied wrongdoing.
The 31-member committee will be drawn from 16 political parties represented in Parliament, with the ANC receiving the largest allocation of nine seats. The DA follows with five representatives, while the MK Party will have three members.
The EFF has been allocated two seats, while the remaining parties, including the IFP, PA, FF Plus, ActionSA, ACDP, UDM, Rise Mzansi, BOSA, ATM, Al Jama-ah, NCC, and UAT, will each be represented by one Member of Parliament.
Political parties had until Friday to submit the names of MPs who will serve on the committee, although several parties had already confirmed their nominees by then.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said its representatives will include Parliamentary leader George Michalakis, Chief Whip Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, Deputy Chief Whip Bax Nodada, national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, and MP Nazley Sharif.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) said party leader Mmusi Maimane will serve on the committee, while Rise Mzansi nominated National Assembly caucus whip Makashule Gana, and the Freedom Front Plus named Chief Whip Wouter Wessels.
The MK Party will be represented by Parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe, Members of Parliament Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala and Chief Whip Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi.
ActionSA selected Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni, while the African Transformation Movement (ATM) named party leader Vuyo Zungula.
Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) confirmed on Friday that its representative on the committee will be chief whip Nhlanhla Hadebe.
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has nominated MP Wayne Maxim Thring, while the United Africans Transformation (UAT) will be represented by its leader, Dr Wonder Mahlatsi.
The DA has previously said it would only support Ramaphosa’s removal if the committee uncovers “firm, credible evidence” of criminal conduct or serious constitutional violations, while BOSA said its participation would be guided by constitutional principles rather than politics.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has indicated that ANC MPs would not vote with opposition parties to remove Ramaphosa, saying the party’s National Executive Committee will guide its position.
The ANC and EFF are yet to confirm their representatives on the 31-member impeachment committee.
The committee will begin its work once all nominations have been submitted.
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