Zuma faces new rules threat
No two centres of power in ANC – secretary-general Magashule
NEW proposals for rules to be adopted by MPs could possibly see an impeachment process bid against President Jacob Zuma begin in March.
The National Assembly’s rules sub-committee met yesterday to deliberate on a draft procedure for implementing section 89(1) of the constitution where members demanded that a panel of judges be instituted to deal with Zuma.
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said: “We couldn’t subject the motion to impeachment to a vote, the judgment rules that out, or a committee. We should open our minds to be creative. What the judgment does is kill our options, including the option of a motion.
“Our proposal is that we must have a panel of retired independent judges, we must have a process of establishing them when the term of Parliament begins. Five or three of them may sit to consider specific cases of Section 89,” said Ndlozi.
This comes after the Constitutional Court made a ruling that the National Assembly had failed to hold Zuma to account. The ruling stated that the Assembly had failed to make rules surrounding the removal of the president and that it had to attend to this as well as hold the president to account “without delay”.
Members from different parties supported the EFF’s proposal to establish a panel of retired judges to head impeachments of presidents.
National Freedom Party leader Nhlanhlakayise Khubisa said the panel would allow the president a fair trial, provided Parliament oversees functions of the panel.
“It will be important to make this process a fair trial. That would mean getting an independent body, but the question that remains is the duty and obligation of Parliament as stated in the constitution. That element must be brought in, that Parliament must do its oversight
THE ANC will not be discussing the recall of President Jacob Zuma as the president of the country, according to party secretary-general Ace Magashule. He was speaking at the East London Convention Centre at the beginning of the party’s national executive committee meeting.
There has been speculation that the future of Zuma will form a key part of discussions as the party tries to forge unity and restore its public image.
The Zuma presidency years have been marked by divisions and factionalism in the party and allegations of rampant corruption.
On Sunday, ANC national executive committee (NEC) member Ronald Lamola said the future of Zuma would be featured during the party’s committee meeting.
However, Magashule said: “This is our first national executive committee special meeting. It is just a meeting to deal with the January 8 statement.”
When asked about the issue of two centres of power, with Zuma remaining the head of state and Cyril Ramaphosa the recently elected party president, Magashule said: “There are no two centres of power, there is only one centre, and centre is the ANC.
“That matter was not for any discussions and debates, as the president (of the country) and the president of the ANC are continually meeting and engaging. Therefore there was no matter to be discussed,” he said.
“There was only one item on the agenda and all of us collectively agreed that this is the special national executive committee, and the matter on the agenda is January 8 statement,” said Magashule.
He said other issues that were expected to feature on the agenda, such as the election of national working committee members, “will come at a next proper meeting of the national executive committee”.
ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said: “It is not like the agenda is still to be adopted, the agenda has been adopted and there is no additional issue.”
Magashule refused to answer questions about Zuma announcing the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture, saying the matter was irrelevant to what the ANC was gathering for in East London.
He said the meeting was merely to have the draft of the January 8 statement, which ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa would deliver on Saturday at the city’s Buffalo City Stadium in Mdantsane township. – African News Agency/ANA/Staff Reporter