Secretary to National Assembly Masibulele Xaso
Image: RSA Parliament
Parliament said on Friday it is unaware of delays regarding the work of the Impeachment Committee that will probe allegations of violation of the constitution and serious misconduct by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
On Thursday, EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi inquired at the National Assembly Programme meeting about the reported delays in the Impeachment Committee.
“In terms of the problem, there is no update in terms of why there are these delays,” Mkhaliphi said.
She also wanted to know if it was true that the Rules Committee has debated among themselves that the impeachment rules need to go for public consultation.
“But we don't have something that is formal. So I was hoping that the program that has been tabled here is going to also elaborate on that one,” said Mkhaliphi.
Secretary to the National Assembly Masibulele Xaso said he was not aware of any delays in the Impeachment Committee.
“What I am aware of is that there are two sets of rules that served before the Rules Committee, the general rules and detailed rules procedures for the Impeachment Committee,” Xaso said.
He explained that the general rules have been referred back to the Subcommittee on the Review of Assembly Rules to attend to certain matters that were discussed extensively in the Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday.
“The Rules Committee was unanimous that these matters be referred back to the Subcommittee.
Xaso also said the detailed rules procedure have been forwarded to the Impeachment Committee.
The two rules were referred for further processing to look into the clause into “fit and proper” person to serve on the committee and also deal with proposals on impeaching the president for indirect conduct and actions.
The 31-member multi-party committee has since been constituted following the judgement of the Constitutional Court last month.
The report of the Independent Panel has since been forwarded to it by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza upon establishing the committee in line with the court order.
Its chairperson, Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana, was elected last week.
“It is now up to the committee when it meets. So there are no delays that we were aware of,” said Xaso.
Gana is on record that the work of the committee will proceed unless there is an interdict.
Ramaphosa has indicated that he will seek an interdict if the committee proceeds with its work while his review application of the Independent Panel Report is being considered by the Western Cape High Court.
When she was asked about the referral of the two rules to the Subcommittee, Didiza said: “The committee chair determines when it meets and how to deal with its programme.”