ActionSA has expressed disappointment over the election of Rise Mzansi Member of Parliament Makashule Gana as chairperson of Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee. Image: Parliament.
RISE Mzansi
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South Africa
ActionSA criticises election of Makashule Gana as Impeachment Committee chairperson
ActionSA says Parliament missed an opportunity to strengthen public confidence in the Section 89 impeachment inquiry after members elected Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana as chairperson of the committee tasked with probing President Cyril Ramaphosa's conduct.
ActionSA has expressed disappointment over the election of Rise Mzansi Member of Parliament Makashule Gana as chairperson of Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee, arguing that the position should have been filled by an opposition-backed candidate to ensure the independence of the inquiry.
Gana was elected on Monday to lead the 31-member committee, which has been established to determine whether there are grounds for the removal of a sitting president under Section 89 of the Constitution.
In a statement, ActionSA said it voted against what it described as the ANC-sponsored Government of National Unity (GNU) candidate and instead supported an opposition candidate whom it believed would better represent the independence and impartiality required for such an important constitutional process.
The party stressed that its objection was not directed at Gana personally, but was based on what it called a fundamental constitutional principle that accountability processes must be clearly independent from those with a direct interest in the continuation of the current administration.
ActionSA said that the chairperson of the committee will play a critical role in overseeing proceedings, managing hearings, making procedural rulings and ensuring the committee fulfils its constitutional mandate. It warned that the election of a chairperson perceived to be aligned with the governing coalition could create doubts about the inquiry's independence.
The party said Parliament could not afford a repeat of past accountability processes that were criticised for appearing to shield executive power rather than subject it to proper scrutiny.
ActionSA argued that South Africans deserve confidence that the impeachment inquiry will be conducted fairly, transparently and without political interference.
Despite its concerns, the party said it remains committed to participating constructively in the committee's work and will continue to push for a process that is credible, transparent and capable of earning public trust.
"The ultimate test before Parliament is not whether it can protect a President, but whether it can uphold the Constitution and demonstrate that no office bearer is beyond accountability," the party said.
