Makashule Gana (Photo: Parliament)
The parliamentary impeachment committee, which must decide whether pres. Cyril Ramaphosa should be placed in a state of impeachment, Makashule chose Gana as his chairman.
The 31 committee members met for the first time on Monday during which Gana, Rise Mzansi MP, was elected chairman. Dr. Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi, MP from the United Africans Transformation (UAT), was the other candidate nominated for the position.
The candidates were voted for and Gana received the support of 19 MPs while Mahlatsi got 12 votes.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the election of the chairman marks the formal start of the committee’s work.
“Gana, as chairman, will provide leadership to the committee, supervise its proceedings, lead its deliberations and ensure that its work is carried out in accordance with the Constitution, the rules of the National Assembly and the committee’s mandate under section 89 of the Constitution.
“The committee will now turn its attention to determining its work program and considering the next steps in the inquiry process. Details of future meetings and activities will be communicated in due course.”
The parliamentary impeachment committee. (Photo: Phando Jikelo/Parliament)
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has welcomed Gana’s election as chairman of the impeachment committee.
“The work of the section 89 committee is of profound national importance and requires the utmost seriousness, fairness and diligence. South Africans can be fully assured that the committee’s proceedings under Gana’s leadership will be protected from political theatre.
“Gana’s election to this important role is a testament to his unwavering commitment to South Africa. He is known as one of Parliament’s hardest working MPs and brings to the table a wealth of management experience with years of dedicated service at various legislative levels, a procedural expert with a keen and thorough understanding of parliamentary rules, procedures and practices, and a principled leader whose record is defined by integrity, work ethic and a deep dedication to the public interest.”
The committee’s establishment comes after the Constitutional Court found last month that parliament’s previous handling of the Phala Phala report was invalid.
The highest court has found that certain aspects of the National Assembly’s (NA) rules on the process for removing a president from office are contrary to the Constitution. The court also ordered that the report of the independent panel be referred to the NA’s impeachment committee.
The case stems from the report of an independent panel appointed by the NV in September 2022 to conduct a preliminary investigation into allegations against Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the theft that took place on his farm in February 2020.
The National Assembly voted on 13 December 2022 not to refer the panel’s report to an impeachment committee. The Constitutional Court has now ruled that this vote is set aside.
Ramaphosa asked in his review application this week that the impeachment committee not start its work pending the application. He submitted this application to the Cape Town High Court to review the independent panel’s report on the Phala Phala case.
In the application, Ramaphosa asks that the report be reviewed, declared illegal and set aside.
He also asks that any steps taken by the National Assembly in terms of this report be reviewed, declared illegal and set aside.