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
ANC Chief Whip in Parliament, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said that the election of Rise Mzansi Chief Whip, Makashule Gana, as chairperson of the Impeachment Committee was the right choice for the ANC.
Ntuli addressed the media on Wednesday, in which he addressed the Government of National Unity (GNU) perceptions and also hit back at the calls for the National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, to recuse herself from the proceedings relating to the work of the Impeachment Committee.
“The ANC Parliamentary Caucus welcomes the constitution of the Section 89 Impeachment Committee, including the election of its chairperson. The committee has a mandate to investigate allegations that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have breached the Constitution and his oath of office.
“The multi-party 31-member committee includes nine ANC members, and we have no doubt that it will conduct its work in a non-partisan manner, in line with Parliament's oversight responsibilities as outlined in Section 55 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. This process is essential to ensuring that the Executive and organs of state remain accountable,” Ntuli said.
ANC Chief Whip in Parliament, Mdumiseni Ntuli (left) and ANC NEC Member, Donald Selamolela (right), addressed the media on matters relating to the Impeachment Committee, and several other matters.
Image: Theolin Tembo/Independent Newspapers
Ntuli said that the meeting between parties before the first impeachment committee sitting was “a very strange thing” that happened on Monday. The meeting included a caucus of all political parties, which the exclusion of the ANC, the PA, the IFP, and Al Jama-ah.
“Everybody there was united around the fact that the ANC must be blocked, and not allowed to chair the committee.
“Some of them were raising very valuable issues, which I accepted. There's no doubt that the ANC can have a (committee) chairperson who discharges their responsibilities, impartially, in line with our laws, but the perception might continue to haunt us, that if the committee is chaired by an ANC person, will it be expected, and be perceived, or be seen, to be biased because the matter involves not just head of state, but the president of the African National Congress.
“That issue was getting weight, as I was listening to my colleagues, especially within the GNU… So when I landed in Cape Town on Monday morning, I raised that, and said, I think there is merit to that issue.”
He said that it was during his discussions with DA Chief Whip, George Michalakis, that they ended up giving their support to Gana.
“Makashule Gana became a natural choice, based on two reasons; the first is that while his organisation is part of the GNU, neither he nor his colleague is serving in the Executive, so in a way they are somehow insulated from the fear that he might act partially, because he protects the seats they occupy in the Executive.
“The second point is that he is a stable member of Parliament; very cool, calm and collected. Very rational person, if you disagree with him, you do, but with respect and in a dignified way,” Ntuli said.
Ntuli added that he believes putting Gana’s name forward for the impeachment committee chairperson was the right choice for the ANC.
President Cyril Ramaphosa
Image: Zwelethemba Kostile / Parliament of RSA
Ntuli also addressed the motions of confidence raised by the EFF and MK Party against the president. He said that if something were to happen to President Cyril Ramaphosa tomorrow, the “unholy” alliance between the two would cease to function.
“Their project is President Cyril Ramaphosa, because we know that they have filed a motion of no confidence. We will wait for that opportunity when the motion of no confidence comes before Parliament.
“And I can tell you without any hesitation that the African National Congress will not support it. In the first place, we don't understand what the urgency is. The impeachment committee has been set up and is intended to deal with the very same issues they are raising,” Ntuli said.
“We believe that if they were acting in the best interest of the people of South Africa, they should be waiting and gearing their energy towards the impeachment committee, and see whether they are going to succeed in their effort in getting the president removed.
He added that they have noted strange calls for Didiza to recuse herself from the proceedings relating to the work of the Impeachment committee.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
“Gratuitous allegation has been made that the Speaker lacks the capacity to impartially guide the work of the Impeachment Committee merely because she is a member and leader of the African National Congress.
“Comrade Thoko Didiza is a longstanding member and leader of the African National Congress, which has demonstrated leadership acumen in dealing with governance matters over the years. There is absolutely no basis whatsoever to suggest that she will compromise the work of the impeachment committee, and the ANC Caucus categorically reject the call for the Speaker to recuse herself,” Ntuli said.