During the committee’s first meeting, two members were nominated for the position of chairperson, Dr Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi and Makashule Gana. Following a vote by committee members, Gana secured the support of 19 members, while Mahlatsi received 12 votes.
Image: Phando Jikelo/ParliamentRSA/Supplied
Opposition parties have raised concerns about impartiality and adhering to constitutional principles following the election of Rise Mzansi Chief Whip, Makashule Gana, as the Impeachment Committee chairperson.
The impeachment committee was established following a Constitutional Court judgment directing Parliament to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to recommend Ramaphosa’s removal from office over the theft of more than $580,000 from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in 2020.
Out of the 31-member seats on the committee, the ANC has nine, followed by the DA with five, the MK Party with three, EFF with two, while the 12 smaller political parties have one seat each.
During the committee’s first meeting, two members were nominated for the position of chairperson, Dr Lehlohonolo Wonderboy Mahlatsi and Makashule Gana. Following a vote by committee members, Gana secured the support of 19 members, while Mahlatsi received 12 votes.
During the committee’s first meeting, two members were nominated for the position of chairperson, Dr Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi (right) and Makashule Gana. Following a vote by committee members, Gana secured the support of 19 members, while Mahlatsi received 12 votes.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Parliament RSA/Supplied
Mahlatsi, who is the President of the United Africans Transformation, said that their concern is not directed at the character or competence of Gana, but rather at the constitutional principle that “justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done”.
“Any circumstance that creates a reasonable perception of bias must be carefully considered. The concern raised by opposition parties stems from the political context within which the appointment was made.
“Rise Mzansi is a participant in the broader Government of National Unity (GNU) framework and currently benefits from executive representation through its participation in governance structures in Gauteng,” Mahlatsi said.
“While this does not automatically disqualify Mr Gana from serving as chairperson, it raises legitimate questions about whether the committee can be perceived as fully independent from political arrangements that may have an interest in protecting the stability of the GNU.”
Mahlatsi said accountability mechanisms concerning the Phala Phala matter must be insulated from any perception that coalition politics, political expediency, or executive interests are influencing the process.
“The South African public deserves an inquiry that is beyond reproach, particularly given the seriousness of the allegations and the constitutional office occupied by the president,” Mahlatsi said.
“Our position is not that Mr Gana is incapable of acting fairly. Rather, it is that Parliament should have been mindful of appointing leadership whose independence would be unquestionable in the eyes of the public,” Mahlatsi said.
Mahlatsi said accountability mechanisms concerning the Phala Phala matter must be insulated from any perception that coalition politics, political expediency, or executive interests are influencing the process.
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Speaking on the sidelines of the committee on Monday, MK Party parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe questioned the independence of Rise Mzansi, claiming it was aligned with the ANC and was being used to advance political outcomes.
“Basically, we have Rise Mzansi, which is a project of the ANC. Rise Mzansi is basically presiding over these proceedings. They are using Rise Mzansi to achieve that which they could not achieve,” he said.
Hlophe said the party believed the committee should be chaired by an independent person and did not regard Gana as impartial.
“As far as we are concerned, for the process to have any credibility, it must be chaired by an independent person, and we do not believe with due respect that Honourable Gana is independent,” Hlophe said.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) parliamentary leader, Dr John Hlophe.
Image: Supplied
Opposition parties have raised concerns about impartiality and adhering to constitutional principles following the election of Rise Mzansi Chief Whip, Makashule Gana, as the Impeachment Committee chairperson.
Image: ParliamentRSA/Supplied
Gana addressed concerns about the GNU perception in an interview with the media after his election, saying the GNU is a political arrangement outside of Parliament.
“Rise Mzansi chairs SCOPA because we are not in the Executive, and now we have this responsibility of chairing the Section 89 Committee because we are not in the Executive.
“The support from both the ANC, the DA, the PA, Al Jama-ah, is because of the work that one has done in Parliament since I got re-elected in 2024.
“I'm very much familiar with the work of Parliament. So, in their choice of electing Makashule Gana to chair this committee, it's because they know the kind of work that I'm going to do. It's the work that I'm going to execute, objectively, impartially, without fear and favour, or prejudice,” Gana said.