By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) outlined its position on the Constitutional Court ruling in the Phala Phala matter after convening a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to deliberate on the future of the Section 89 impeachment process involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The meeting follows last week’s Constitutional Court, which found that Parliament acted irrationally and inconsistently with the Constitution when it rejected the Section 89 Independent Panel report in 2022, effectively halting impeachment proceedings at the time.
Addressing the media at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Friday, secretary general Fikile Mbalula said the NEC reaffirmed, in clear and unambiguous terms, its full and continuing support for Ramaphosa.
“The NEC reaffirmed, in clear and unambiguous terms, its full and continuing support for President Ramaphosa, as the leader of this movement and, in that capacity, as the leader of the Government of National Unity,” he told reporters.
Mbalula clarified that Ramaphosa, as a citizen, had the right to a fair hearing and the right to seek a judicial review of the independent Section 89 panel report, a move the President has indicated he will take.
He dismissed calls for the President to step aside, emphasising that the party will not vote to impeach its own President.
“The [Constitutional] Court did not find the President guilty of anything. The Court did not direct that Ramaphosa be removed from office,” Mbalula said, clarifying the party’s position on the ruling.
“The judgment… is concerned with the procedural conduct of the National Assembly and the rules under which it acted. It is not, in any respect, a finding on the merits of the matter,” he explained.
Mbalula reaffirmed that Ramaphosa would continue to perform his duties as head of State, noting that the Constitutional Court judgment did not interrupt the work of the government.
“The National Executive Committee of the ANC, in the meeting, did not consider, and was not asked to consider, the recall of the President of the ANC. Resignation was not on the table. None of those matters were on the table,” he said.
Mbalula said the party would fully participate in the impeachment committee.
Parliament confirmed that Parliament would fully comply with the apex court’s ruling and was initiating the process of establishing an impeachment committee.
The committee is expected to consist of 31 members drawn from all political parties represented in the National Assembly, with the ANC securing nine seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance, MK Party, and Economic Freedom Fighters.
While the ANC maintains its support for the President, the parliamentary process mandated by the Constitutional Court will proceed independently.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) has named its five Member of Parliament who will sit on the Impeachment Committee.
They include: Parliamentary leader – George Michalakis Deputy chief whip, Baxolile Nodada, National Spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, Adv Glynnis Breytenbach and Nazley Sharif.