President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a letter to Parliament objecting to the appointment of Advocate Thandazani Madonsela as the evidence leader for Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee.
According to the letter, Ramaphosa raised concerns about Madonsela’s previous involvement with his office and his party, the ANC, arguing that this creates a potential conflict of interest.
Ramaphosa also argued that he removed Madonsela from the Judicial Service Commission in 2022, stating that Madonsela might harbour a grievance against him.
Committee Chairperson Makashule Gana said they would respond to Ramaphosa’s letter at a later stage, as the legal department was still studying it and considering the options available to the committee.
“So, from the Parliament side, all the authorisations were received, but late last night, or last night, we received this communication from the President.
“That communication is the one that the legal team is currently studying, so that they can guide the committee. So, the next step, ordinarily, would have been to instruct the State Attorney to proceed with the appointment,” said Gana.
Meanwhile, opposition parties criticised the President’s letter, arguing that he is delaying and frustrating the process.
The African Transformation Movement parliamentary leader, Vuyo Zungula, said he was not surprised by the President’s challenge, adding that the party had always expected the President to resist the process.
“Like we argued in our papers, the President at each stage is going to try and find some issue for the purposes of stalling the process, frustrating the process and delaying the process.
“So, for him now to have an issue with Advocate Madonsela is something that should be viewed for what it is.
“It is a delaying tactic. This is not the last time; each process he is going to try and delay and frustrate,” said Zungula.
Zungula’s comments were echoed by uMkhonto weSizwe Party member of the committee, Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala.
She accused the President of trying to block the work of the committee and prevent it from probing the truth about what happened during the robbery at his farm.
“He says that it’s fine, find out the truth, Impeachment Committee, but I will decide who is this person that will lead you to this truth.
“That’s my first reaction.
“My second one is that there was a democratic process that took weeks leading up to that vote.
“Now he’s coming back to second-guess a democratic process of the Impeachment Committee that was appointed,” remarked Litchfield-Tshabalala.
