MK Party says it has submitted amendments to Rule 129 following the Constitutional Court ruling on Section 89 impeachment procedures and calls for urgent parliamentary processing.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
The MK Party has confirmed that proposed amendments to Rule 129 of the National Assembly Rules have been formally submitted to Speaker of Parliament Thoko Didiza, following the Constitutional Court judgment delivered on 8 May 2026 on Section 89 impeachment procedures.
The party says the amendments are aimed at addressing what it describes as a serious constitutional defect in the current impeachment framework, which previously allowed parliamentary majorities to terminate impeachment proceedings.
It said this applied even after an independent panel had made a prima facie finding of serious constitutional violations, misconduct, or inability by the President to perform the functions of office.
In its statement, the MK Party said: “The proposed amendments seek to address a serious constitutional defect which previously allowed political majorities in Parliament to prematurely terminate impeachment processes, even after an independent panel had found prima facie evidence of serious constitutional violations, serious misconduct, or inability by the President to perform his functions of office.”
The party further explained that the changes would ensure that once an independent panel makes a positive prima facie finding, the matter must proceed directly to a full evidentiary inquiry before the Impeachment Committee, without requiring an additional political vote to activate the process.
“The amendments propose that once an independent panel makes a positive prima facie finding, the matter must automatically proceed to a full evidentiary inquiry before the Impeachment Committee without requiring a further political vote to activate the process.”
The MK Party also said the Constitutional Court has clarified that Section 89 requires a meaningful accountability mechanism that cannot be undermined by partisan political gatekeeping.
“The Constitutional Court has now clarified that Section 89 requires a meaningful accountability mechanism, and not one vulnerable to partisan political gatekeeping,” the party said.
According to the MK Party, the amendments are necessary to strengthen constitutional accountability, protect the integrity of Parliament, and restore public confidence in the impeachment process.
The party has also called on the Speaker of the National Assembly to urgently convene the Rules Committee to process the proposed amendments in line with the Constitutional Court judgment and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“As the MK Party, we call upon the Speaker to urgently convene the Rules Committee to process these amendments with urgency in order to ensure full compliance with the Constitutional Court judgment and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,'' MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
IOL Politics