The African National Congress (ANC) has defended its decision to support Rise Mzansi leader Makashule Gana as chairperson of Parliament’s Impeachment Committee, saying the party was never determined to control the process investigating President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala matter.
Speaking in Parliament, ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli said the party had become aware over the weekend of efforts by other political parties to exclude it from negotiations aimed at finding consensus on who should lead the committee.
The development followed growing opposition among several parties to the prospect of an ANC MP chairing the panel tasked with examining allegations of impropriety linked to Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm.
ANC Explains Decision To Support Makashule Gana
Although ANC MP Doris Mpapane had been viewed as a likely candidate for the role, the governing party instead nominated Gana, a move that ultimately secured him the chairmanship.
Ntuli said the ANC reflected on why it had been left out of behind-the-scenes discussions before engaging with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and deciding on a different approach.
“For us, it was not a matter of life and death to chair the committee. It was an option available to us as the biggest party in Parliament. We have to take responsibility even if there’s major difficult tasks that must be undertaken. We can’t abandon [it] on the basis that the President comes from the ANC.”
According to Ntuli, the party viewed the matter as an opportunity to demonstrate leadership rather than insist on controlling the committee.
Opposition Bid To Install Wonderboy Mahlatsi Falls Short
Earlier on Monday, members of the opposition Progressive Caucus held discussions involving 11 political parties in an effort to secure support for United Africans Transformation (UAT) leader Dr Wonderboy Mahlatsi as chairperson of the inquiry.
However, parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU) declined to back Mahlatsi’s nomination and instead supported Gana.
The vote resulted in Gana being elected chairperson with 19 votes, while Mahlatsi received 12.
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Following his appointment, Gana said the committee would focus on advancing its work despite ongoing administrative processes linked to the inquiry.
“The Section 89 committee work is now in progress. The things that are in our control, we will ensure they are done. Those that are outside our control will be done by those bodies.”
Gana also said the work of a separate rules sub-committee, which is drafting the procedures that will govern the inquiry, would not delay preparations by the newly established Impeachment Committee.
The committee is expected to begin laying the groundwork for its investigation while the operational framework is being finalised.
