On Monday, members of Parliament’s 31-strong impeachment committee installed Makashule Gana as its chairperson. With backing from African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and Patriotic Alliance (PA), the Rise Mzansi MP beat United Africans Transformation’s (UAT) Wonderboy Mahlatsi, 19 to 12.
In years past, the ANC would have had a firm enough majority to field and appoint its own candidate. It would have been able to drive the process that’s due to investigate the Phala Phala matter. However, its diminished support has translated into shrunken influence.
Beyond this, factional squabbles prevented the ANC from nominating a candidate from its own ranks. This became visible early in the process, when the party missed the 22 May deadline to submit nominees for the impeachment committee. Reports at the time ascribed the tardiness to a clash between secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli. The matter was escalated to senior-ranking officials.
The DA’s support for Gana came as a surprise. After serving the party in various positions over the span of two decades, he became disillusioned and exited in 2022. A closer look reveals that support from his former political home was strategic.
Should the impeachment committee’s conclusion favour President Cyril Ramaphosa, the DA would rather not be seen at the centre of it.
The upcoming municipal elections will apply increasing pressure on parties within the ANC-led GNU to demonstrate independence. This will be the case especially for parties with ministerial positions, like DA and PA. Rise Mzansi will enjoy a degree of cover from the “sell-out” accusations in the form of the standing committee on public accounts (SCOPA), which it chairs.
Gana stepped forward as the ANC, DA and PA retreated. Ahead of him lies the task of chairing the first impeachment committee in all of South Africa’s democratic history. The outcome of this process will be consequential not just for Ramaphosa’s career, but the country’s trajectory.
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Image credit: Fani Mahuntsi/News24
