Newly elected impeachment committee chair Makashule Gana says the committee will do its work fairly as Parliament reviews the Phala Phala allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: Facebook/Parliament
Newly elected impeachment committee chair Makashule Gana says President Cyril Ramaphosa has the right to challenge the independent Phala Phala report, but must appear before Parliament’s committee if summoned.
He was speaking on Tuesday afternoon, when Ramaphosa delivered the Presidency's Budget Vote at the National Assembly.
"As a leader, you are mandated to defend, uphold, and respect the Constitution. We believe you understand the weight of being a creature of statute.
"Crucially, the Constitution places oversight and accountability over you and your office directly within this House and the newly established impeachment committee."
Gana said that while it was within Ramaphosa's rights to seek a judicial review of the independent panel's report, Parliament must be clear about its responsibilities.
"The committee will proceed with its work until such time as the court pronounces otherwise. We will do our work without fear, without favour, and without prejudice.
"It is good, Mr President, that you exercise your rights, but it must also be clear to South Africans that you will subject yourself to the impeachment committee if we get to that stage and you are called to appear before it.
"While appearing before a parliamentary committee is unprecedented for a president, even the late President Nelson Mandela appeared before a court of law when called, despite his personal reservations. This is the weight of leadership."
Gana made the remarks as the Section 89 impeachment inquiry is expected to feature prominently in parliamentary debates. He was recently elected chairperson of Parliament's Phala Phala impeachment committee.
The committee will examine issues related to the theft of $580,000 allegedly hidden in a sofa at Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in February 2020.
The 31-member committee will reassess the Phala Phala report and scrutinise allegations against Ramaphosa.
It comprises members from 16 political parties represented in Parliament.
Ramaphosa has recently approached the Western Cape High Court to challenge the independent panel report, which found that he may have violated the Constitution and abused his position.
He wants the report set aside, particularly the section recommending that Parliament consider impeachment proceedings against him.
The report, compiled in 2022 by an independent panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, concluded that there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious misconduct linked to the Phala Phala scandal.
Gana said the committee represented a significant milestone in strengthening South Africa's constitutional democracy.
"Mr President, it has become unfashionable to speak out against what is wrong for fear of retribution."
He also addressed growing anti-migrant protests targeting undocumented foreign nationals across the country.
There has been an increase in anti-illegal immigration protests in parts of South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Many migrants have travelled to South Africa in search of better opportunities.
However, conditions have become increasingly difficult and, in some cases, frightening, raising concerns about their safety.
Newly elected impeachment committee chair Makashule Gana has pledged to conduct the Phala Phala inquiry without fear, favour or prejudice as Parliament re-examines allegations linked to the 2020 theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa's game farm.
Image: GCIS
“As head of state, Mr President, I would like you to continue speaking out clearly against violent groups taking the law into their own hands, profiling people and deciding who is a citizen.
"The government must also take responsibility for corruption at Home Affairs and at our borders, systemic failures and the consequences of high unemployment and crime."
Gana said the country must also confront the economic hardships facing many households.
"Our people are drowning under the crushing cost of living, driving many to seek an impossible escape."
He also raised concerns about the impact of gambling.
"We cannot look away, Mr President, when online gambling addiction, fuelled by unrestricted access and advertising, ravages our communities.
"The government must step up and treat gambling addiction as the severe public health crisis that it truly is."
Gana called for unity and a commitment to building a better South Africa.
"Mr President, let us all commit to a safe, prosperous, equal and united South Africa within one generation," he said.
On Tuesday, Ramaphosa said the government was working to address immigration challenges.
"As we work to build a safer, more stable and more prosperous society, we do need to address the challenge of migration," he said.
"When it is well managed and regulated, migration can help drive economic growth and opportunity for all. However, we need to deal with illegal migration."
He said illegal immigration placed additional pressure on government resources and services.
"We have seen how illegal immigration into our country can put pressure on our public services and undermine our efforts to create decent work for all."
Ramaphosa said the government was taking decisive action.
"As announced in the State of the Nation Address, the government is taking decisive action to address this challenge. We are cracking down on violations of immigration laws."
He said authorities were increasing workplace inspections and prosecuting employers who violate labour laws.
"We are strengthening border security, stamping out corruption in the immigration system and closing loopholes in fragmented immigration laws."
Ramaphosa stressed that all people living in South Africa must respect the law.
"We must be clear, however, that every person in South Africa, whether they are citizens or foreign nationals, must respect our laws.
"They must also respect the rights of every person in our country, and our laws must be upheld. They must never give in to violence, xenophobia or vigilantism.
“As a society, we must stand against all forms of disinformation, incitement, racism and ethnic mobilisation."
He said the government would continue strengthening and enforcing immigration laws while upholding constitutional principles.
"We will continue to strengthen and enforce our laws while upholding the Constitution of the Republic and respecting the human dignity of all. This will enable us to deal with illegal immigration without turning against one another."
His remarks come as anti-migrant group March and March, which has led protests against undocumented foreign nationals across the country, has given illegal immigrants until June 30 to leave South Africa.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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