During the committee’s first meeting, two members were nominated for the position of chairperson, Dr Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi and Mr Makashule Gana. Following a vote by committee members, Gana secured the support of 19 members, while Mahlatsi received 12 votes.
Image: Phando Jikelo/ParliamentRSA/Supplied
After long negotiations by political parties, it was ultimately Rise Mzansi Chief Whip, Makashule Gana, who was elected to be chairperson of the Impeachment Committee on the Section 89 Enquiry.
The committee was established after the Constitutional Court judgment directed Parliament to investigate whether there are valid grounds to recommend President Cyril Ramaphosa’s removal from office.
Prior to the committee’s first meeting, several political parties had indicated that negotiations for the position of chairperson were ongoing, with the decision of that coming down to the wire.
That proved to be the case when, an hour before the committee’s first meeting, African Transformation Movement (ATM) President Vuyo Zungula addressed the media, saying that there had been several names which had been put forth by parties, but some had indicated that they would only be able to make a decision after conferring internally.
Out of the 31-member seats on the committee, the ANC has nine, followed by the DA with five, the MK Party with three, EFF with two, while the 12 smaller political parties have one seat each.
During the committee’s first meeting, two members were nominated for the position of chairperson, Dr Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi and Makashule Gana. Following a vote by committee members, Gana secured the support of 19 members, while Mahlatsi received 12 votes.
Instead of putting forward the expected name of the ANC’s Doris Mpapane as their nominee, the ANC instead put forward the name of Gana with him receiving the backing of the DA, Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Freedom Front Plus, Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-Ah.
Mahlatsi was put forward by the EFF and received the backing of the MK Party, and Build One South Africa, National Coloured Congress, ActionSA, United Democratic Movement, African Christian Democratic Party, United Africans Transformation (UAT) and ATM.
As chairperson, Gana will now lead the committee as it carries out its responsibilities under Section 89 of the Constitution.
Speaking after his election, Gana thanked the committee members for their support but said that the work had just begun.
“The things that are in our control, we’ll ensure that they are done. Those that are outside of our control will be done by those bodies. Just to announce that there are processes that are on the go, with regard to the (committee) rules, but that work won’t stop the work of the committee. They will work in parallel.
“We will be in communication with all the members of the committee, in terms of the next processes that will be taken,” Gana said.
The committee will now turn its attention to determining its programme of work and the next steps in the enquiry process.
Prior to the committee getting underway, the Secretary to the National Assembly, Masibulele Xaso, said the Speaker received a letter challenging MKP's John Hlophe serving on the impeachment committee.
He explained that since there was no impediment in terms of the rules, Hlophe could continue to serve on the committee. ANC MP, Mikateko Mahlaule, then commented that while they do not disagree with the ruling, they believe that the Speaker should get a legal opinion “so that when we are taken to court, and we get an adverse ruling,” then they will not be caught wanting.
During the committee’s first meeting, two members were nominated for the position of chairperson, Dr Lehlohonolo Mahlatsi (right) and Makashule Gana. Following a vote by committee members, Gana secured the support of 19 members, while Mahlatsi received 12 votes.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Parliament RSA/Supplied
Speaking on the sidelines after the committee’s adjournment, Gana said that they will now turn to the sub-committee on rules, which is going to meet on Thursday.
“That's going to give guidance to the committee itself. I'm also part of the subcommittee on rules. When I say that the work has begun, it has indeed begun. I will be interactive with the committee section, but it's a massive responsibility, and for me as a chairperson, it is to execute this responsibility with impartiality,” Gana said.
“Rise Mzansi is not in the executive. The GNU is a political arrangement outside of Parliament. Rise Mzansi chairs COPA because we are not in the executive, and now we have this responsibility of chairing the Section 89 committee because we are not in the executive. So the support from both the ANC, the DA, the IFP, the PA, and Al Jama-ah is because of the work that one has done,” Gana said.
He said that his mandate is to ensure that the work of the committee proceeds and produces a report that will withstand legal scrutiny.
“But on a day-to-day basis, it is to ensure that the members that are participating, so members of Parliament, the witnesses that will be called in, the evidence leaders, but also the counsel for the president, they feel that this process is fair enough,” Gana said.
When asked if he is in his position to protect the president, he said, “I'm here to chair the Section 89 committee.”
Commenting on Gana’s election, EFF MP Omphile Maotwe said: “We're happy the ANC did not get their own candidate. The political parties in parliament met earlier on, and we had deliberated on the three names, and we emerged with Dr Matlatsi, and the DA obviously came with Honourable Makhasile Ghana. So he's been voted by the DA and the ANC in the main, and other smaller parties.
“We're happy that the (impeachment) matter is now back on the table. The impeachment committee, should have long started had it not been for the majority of the ANC to vote against that report.”