Bad Threat and Rise Mzansi. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
The parliamentary impeachment committee requested a legal opinion to gain clarity on the inclusion of John Hlophe.
Makashule Gana, Rise Mzansi MP and chairman of the impeachment committee, said at a media conference in Johannesburg on Monday that Hlophe’s inclusion in the 31-member committee does not depend on the chairman, but on the speaker of parliament.
Hlophe, a former judge,’s inclusion led to a lot of public debate because he himself was placed in a state of accusation and removed as a judge.
Gana says the sub-committee on the review of the rules of the National Assembly (NA) referred the matter for a legal opinion last week.
“The speaker will receive the legal opinion and it will guide the committee.”
However, Thoko Didiza, speaker of the parliament, is still waiting for that.
Dr. A.S. John Hlophe (Photo: Twitter/DA)
Committee wants to meet soon
In the meantime, preparations are being made for the committee’s first meeting.
According to Gana, the committee intends to hold its first official meeting before the parliamentary recess begins at the end of the month. “Before June 26, we will hold a meeting of the impeachment committee,” Gana said at a Rise Mzansi media conference.
The committee must decide whether pres. Cyril Ramaphosa should be placed in a state of impeachment.
Gana made it clear anew that the committee will continue with its work, despite the president’s pending review application.
According to Gana, no lawyer’s letter is going to derail the committee.
“The work can only be stopped or interrupted when a competent court orders it,” said Gana.
DA ‘kingmaker’ when choosing committee chairman
Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi, for his part explained that it ultimately depended on the DA who would be elected as chairman of the impeachment committee.
“The decision to raise our hand was carefully considered,” said Zibi.
“We understood the political dynamics. We understood one thing in particular: that anyone who was serious about chairing the committee would have to secure the vote of the kingmaker – the DA.
“Anyone who said they wanted to be chairman and never spoke to the DA was never serious about being chairman. That’s just how numbers work.
“If they had said ‘no’ and the ANC had said ‘no’, we would not have made the effort.”
The ANC has nine representatives on the committee and the DA five. Rise Mzansi has one representative: Gana.
Bad Threat and Rise Mzansi. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
However, Zibi believes the committee exercised the right choice in electing Gana as chairman.
“No South African president has ever been placed in a state of impeachment. This is a very serious matter that is not left to simple political theater. You need someone with a certain temperament and a certain level of experience and credibility among political parties. You also need someone who is going to respect the serious constitutional moment in which we find ourselves.
“Makashule has been in parliament for more than one term. People forget he was (before) a DA MP.”
Gana bid farewell to the DA in August 2022 after 20 years as a party member.
Zibi also said on Monday that Gana currently serves on Parliament’s Rules Committee and Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics.
“He has experience in provincial government. He was a member of the Gauteng legislature. He was also a councilor of the City of Johannesburg before Johannesburg collapsed. So he is someone who fully supports us.”
