Ramaphosa gets Phala Phala reprieve
Panel considering impeachment gets extension until a day before MPs are set to go on recess
The independent panel considering whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should be impeached over the Phala Phala saga has been granted a twoweek extension, making it unlikely that the matter will progress ahead of the ANC’s elective conference.
Parliament announced on Wednesday that speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had acceded to a request for an extension from the panel led by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo.
The ANC’s five-day elective conference is set to start on December 16, while parliamentarians usually go off on recess on December 1, a day after the new deadline. The limited time will make it difficult for Ramaphosa’s detractors to use the parliamentary process to discredit him ahead of the elective conference.
The Phala Phala saga, in which foreign currency was stolen from Ramaphosa’s farm, has bedevilled the president during the second half of 2022, leading to increased calls for him to step down.
It was a topic of hot debate at the ANC’s highest decisionmaking body at the weekend. Several members of the national executive committee are calling for him to step aside.
The extension to November 30 will allow the independent panel, which also includes retired justice Thokozile Masipa and advocate Mahlape Sello, more time to complete its work, parliament said.
Parliament’s spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said Ngcobo asked for more time based on the panel’s “assessment of the amount of ground still to be covered and the available resources”, adding that the extension “was realistic, taking into account the importance of the inquiry, its complexity, as well as the novelty of the nature of work involved.
“In considering the request of the panel, the speaker was mindful that the current rules
governing the section 89 process do not provide for extension of the deadline for submission of the panel report. In this regard, the speaker has invoked rule 6, which deals with unforeseen circumstances, to accede to the panel’s request,” Mothapo said.
In terms of the constitution, only the National Assembly may remove a president for a serious violation of the constitution or law, serious misconduct or inability to perform functions of the office. A two-thirds majority is required and first MPs would have to debate Ngcobo’s report and vote on it.
The scandal blew open when former spy and prisons boss Arthur Fraser opened a case with police. Announcing the move on June 1, he insisted he did so “in the interests of justice”, but Ramaphosa’s backers suspect an ulterior motive.
The former intelligence director-general claimed that Ramaphosa allegedly committed crimes including money laundering. He accused the president of an unlawful cover-up in which suspects were secretly pursued in Namibia and paid hush money.
Ramaphosa insists he has violated no laws. He said the foreign currency stolen from his farm was derived from the sale of game.
Political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng said: “The ANC has a history of hard contestation for a second term. What is happening to Ramaphosa is par for the course.”
However, she doubted an impeachment process, were it to proceed, would lead to an exit.
“Although the ANC has many factions and open conflict between the factions, they have always protected each other when it came to impeachment,” she said.
week extension for the panel considering whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should be impeached over the Phala Phala saga