ActionSA has announced that it will approach the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to challenge the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) disciplinary findings that cleared Major General Wally Rhoode and Brigadier Hennie Rekhoto over their conduct during the investigation into the 2020 Phala Phala farm burglary. In a statement issued on Friday, ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont and Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni said the party had instructed its legal team to institute review proceedings seeking to have the disciplinary…

Parliament has taken a major step in one of the most politically significant processes of South Africa’s democratic era after RISE Mzansi Member of Parliament Makashule Gana was elected chairperson of the impeachment committee tasked with probing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s conduct in the Phala Phala saga. Gana secured 19 votes during the election held on Monday at the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town, defeating Dr Lehlohonolo Wonderboy Mahlatsi, president of the United Africans Transformation (UAT) political party, who received…

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has formally nominated its parliamentary leader, Vuyo Zungula, to participate in all proceedings relating to the Section 89 impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa over the controversial Phala Phala scandal. In a letter addressed to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza on Thursday, ATM Chief Whip Thandiswa Marawu said the party believed Parliament had a constitutional duty to handle the impeachment process “without fear, favour or political expediency”. The party argued that allegations surrounding the Phala…

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has welcomed the establishment of Parliament’s impeachment committee under Section 89 of the Constitution, while warning that the process must remain credible, impartial and free from political manipulation. The party issued the warning on Thursday following the announcement by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza that a 31-member impeachment committee would be established after last week’s landmark Constitutional Court judgment on the rules governing the removal of a sitting president. The impeachment process has emerged as…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has formally called for the impeachment of Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, accusing her office of incompetence and misconduct in its handling of the explosive Phala Phala scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa. In a letter submitted to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, the MK Party requested that Parliament initiate proceedings in terms of Section 194 of the Constitution, which governs the removal of heads of Chapter 9 institutions. The party argues that Gcaleka and her office…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed not to resign despite mounting political pressure following last week’s landmark Constitutional Court judgment on the Phala Phala scandal, saying he will instead challenge the Section 89 independent panel report through a judicial review process. In a nationally televised address from the Union Buildings on Monday evening, Ramaphosa defended his decision to remain in office and insisted the Constitutional Court had made no finding that he committed misconduct or violated the Constitution. “I therefore respectfully…

The National Assembly is moving to re-establish the impeachment inquiry process into President Cyril Ramaphosa following last week’s landmark Constitutional Court ruling on the handling of the Phala Phala matter. In a statement issued on Monday, Parliament confirmed that Speaker Thoko Didiza has determined the process the National Assembly will follow after the Constitutional Court declared Rule 129I unconstitutional and invalid. The judgment, delivered on Friday in the matter brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and another applicant, ATM,…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of attempting to use the courts to avoid accountability over the Phala Phala scandal, following reports that he is considering reviving a legal challenge against the Section 89 Independent Panel report. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the EFF said Ramaphosa’s reported intention to seek a judicial review of the report comes after the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it blocked an impeachment…

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has formally tabled a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa following Friday’s landmark Constitutional Court ruling on Parliament’s handling of the Phala Phala matter. The motion, submitted by ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, argues that the apex court judgment confirmed Parliament had failed in its constitutional oversight duties when it dismissed attempts to hold the President accountable over the scandal. The Speaker’s office had not responded to…

The Presidency and Parliament have both pledged to study and respect Friday’s landmark Constitutional Court judgment that revived the Section 89 impeachment process linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Phala Phala scandal. In separate statements issued hours after the ruling, the Presidency and Parliament struck a cautious tone, emphasising respect for the judiciary and constitutional processes following the court’s decision in favour of the Economic Freedom Fighters. The Constitutional Court ruled that the National Assembly acted inconsistently with the…