By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, rejects the false, unwarranted and defamatory allegations made by African Transformation Movement (ATM) Member of Parliament, Vuyolwethu Zungula, regarding her role in the Section 89 process.
Zungula claimed that Didiza voted against processing the Section 89 report in 2022, opposition parties, including the MK Party, DA, and EFF, agree she must not oversee decisions regarding evidence leaders or the committee’s terms of reference.
He clarified that parties are not calling for Didiza’s removal as Speaker, but for her recusal from this impeachment process.
He also claimed that Didiza met with legal advisors of President Cyril Ramaphosa to taint the process, a claim strongly denied by the Office of the Speaker.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said Didiza rejected “in the strongest terms” allegations that she met with lawyers representing Ramaphosa following the Constitutional Court judgment relating to the Phala Phala matter.
“These allegations are entirely false, without any factual basis, and appear to rely solely on tabloid reporting,” Mothapo said.
He said the Speaker had never met with the President’s legal representatives, either as alleged by Zungula or in any other context relating to the matter.
“The Speaker reiterates that she has never met with the legal representatives of the President, either as alleged by Zungula or in any other context relating to this matter,” Mothapo said.
Mothapo said Zungula’s allegations appeared aimed at undermining both the integrity of the Speaker and the credibility of the Section 89 process currently underway.
“The allegations made by Zungula are based on pure speculation and appear calculated to cast doubt on the integrity of the Speaker and the credibility of the Section 89 process currently underway,” he said.
He added that while Zungula continued to advance the claims in public, the Speaker had complied with every directive arising from the Constitutional Court judgment without delay or hesitation, including the establishment of the multiparty Impeachment Committee in line with the court’s order and parliamentary procedures.
“The Speaker further rejects the assertion that her participation in the National Assembly vote on the Independent Panel Report in December 2022 constitutes grounds for her recusal from any subsequent Section 89 process. This proposition is without merit, said Moloto.
“The vote on the Independent Panel Report was a decision of the National Assembly. At the time, Ms Didiza participated in that vote in her capacity as an elected Member of Parliament, exercising the same constitutional rights and responsibilities afforded to every other Member of the House.”