Johnathan Paoli
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy president Floyd Shivambu has called on the Speaker Thoko Didiza to set up an impeachment inquiry into the Phala Phala allegations against president-elect Cyril Ramaphosa.
After Didiza was elected on Friday, Shivambu delivered a letter requesting a draft motion to invoke the impeachment against Ramaphosa in terms of section 89(1) of the constitution.
“We have also delivered the hard copy letters to you now so you can pay attention to this now,” he said.
In the letter, the EFF submitted an urgent draft resolution in accordance with rule 119 of the National Assembly Rules which allows for the proposal of a subject for discussion, or a draft resolution for approval as a resolution of the house, with or without a debate.
The letter explained that the independent panel report on the Phala Phala, tabled on November 30 2023, found there was a prima facie case for the impeachment against Ramaphosa and that a full impeachment committee should be established.
The EFF said that while it recognised the National Assembly’s previous decision against the establishment of an impeachment committee on December 13, 2022, members who voted against the committee cited the court challenge by Ramaphosa to set the report of the panel aside.
The party recalled the ruling by the Constitutional Court to dismiss Ramaphosa’s application to set aside the report, and said it considered the report authoritative on the matter, and Parliament had an obligation by the constitution to take things further by establishing an impeachment committee.
Shivambu called on Parliament in establishing the committee to ensure the inquiry is serious, reasonable, procedurally fair and within a reasonable time-frame.
While affording the President the right to be heard in his defence, the party called for the tabling of the report no later than 30 October this year.
In her response, Didiza asked for time to deliberate on the important decision, considering the process followed by the previous administration.
“Once we’ve considered your letter we will give you a response on how the seventh administration will proceed with the matter,” she said.
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