Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Panel to probe impeachment possibility
PARLIAMENT will appoint an independent panel to recommend whether to initiate a process to impeach President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This follows the African Transformation Movement’s (ATM) request to have the president answer in Parliament for the Phala Phala farm saga.
Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula agreed that the National Assembly would look into the possible impeachment of South Africa’s first citizen. A panel will be appointed and the same procedure in place on suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will be used.
The ATM submitted a proposed motion to the Speaker on June 14, requesting the House to initiate an inquiry into the removal of Ramaphosa from the Office of the President of the Republic on specific charges.
“The Speaker had initially declined the motion as it was not compliant with the applicable rules of the NA. Following engagements with the member, as directed by Rule 129B, to ensure compliance of the motion with the rules, an amended version of the motion was subsequently submitted on 18 July,” said a statement from Parliament.
The statement further explained that the function of the independent panel was to conduct a preliminary assessment of the proposed motion, and in so doing, must in terms of Rule 129G, make a recommendation to the Speaker within 30 days, whether sufficient evidence exists to show he president committed any of the violations specified in the motion.
“A panel referral, therefore, does not constitute a parliamentary impeachment process, but an assessment of the supplied evidence by legal and constitutional experts to determine if, in terms of the Constitution, it is adequate to warrant a further process.”
ATM president Vuyo Zungula welcomed the announcement by the Speaker.
“It is long overdue and it shouldn’t have taken two months for the Speaker to reach that decision.
“We hope that the independent panel can be appointed as soon as possible and this process is quick as possible so that we can move on from this dark part of our country. We have a president alleged to have committed serious offences, including money laundering, tax evasion, and at his instruction, people were kidnapped and tortured.”
Ramaphosa is under pressure from opposition parties to step down over a burglary two years ago at his Phala Phala Farm.
Former spy boss Arthur Fraser opened a case and provided purported evidence that Ramaphosa might have committed serious violations.
The president faces allegations that he concealed the crime.
EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu suggested Ramaphosa was a gangster. He said only gangsters didn’t open cases with the police when they experienced a break-in.
Constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos said the process was similar to that of the removal of Chapter Nine bodies.
“The requirement is that there cannot be a removal unless there is a factual finding that the president is guilty of a serious violation of the Constitution or misconduct.