Date set for National Assembly to debate Phala Phala panel report
Specially convened hybrid sitting for December 6
The National Assembly is scheduled to debate the expert panel report on the Phala Phala saga on December 6.
This will be a specially convened hybrid sitting as the assembly was due to begin its constituency and leave period on December 1. The report will be distributed to
MPs before the sitting.
The date for the special session to debate the report of the independent panel headed by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo was decided yesterday by the National Assembly’s programme committee.
There will be no time before the National Assembly rises and before the ANC national conference for any recommendations of the panel to be implemented, for example, the process for a possible recommendation for the impeachment of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ngcobo requested and was this week granted by National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula an extension to submit the panel’s report. The new deadline is November 30.
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”.
The ANC, DA, IFP and EFF welcomed that MPs will have the opportunity to debate the report before the National Assembly rises.
The programme committee also dealt with the Electoral Amendment Bill, which has to be passed by parliament before the December 10 deadline set by the Constitutional Court. The bill provides for the inclusion of independent candidates in national and provincial elections.
The National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) select committee on security and justice has indicated that it will propose amendments to the bill and that it will refer it to the home affairs committee on November 29, which will mean that the latter committee will have to meet again on November 30 to deal with the amendments. The bill will also have to be adopted again by the National Assembly.