Makashule Gana Elected to Lead Phala Phala Impeachment Committee

Makashule Gana Elected to Lead Phala Phala Impeachment Committee — What Happens Next?

Parliament's Section 89 Impeachment Committee has a new chairperson — and the decision signals just how the political winds are blowing in South Africa. RISE Mzansi MP Makashule Gana was elected to lead the committee tasked with investigating whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should face impeachment over the Phala Phala farm scandal. Here is what you need to know.

The Vote That Put Gana in Charge

Gana secured 19 votes in the committee election, defeating United African Transformation leader Wonderboy Mahlatse, who received 12 votes. The results, reported by the Mail & Guardian and Polity.org.za, show the influence of parties aligned with the Government of National Unity, many of which have opposed calls for Ramaphosa's removal.

ANC MP Mikateko Mahlaule nominated Gana, while Democratic Alliance MP George Michalakis seconded the nomination — an unusual show of unity between the two largest GNU partners on this issue.

The Opposition's Candidate

On the other side, Economic Freedom Front MP Omphile Maotwe nominated UAT's Mahlatse, and United Democratic Movement MP Nqabayomzi Lawrence Kwankwa seconded it. Mahlatse was backed by opposition parties, including the EFF and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which have been the most vocal in calling for the president's removal.

The 12 votes Mahlatse received show that while the opposition is united in wanting Ramaphosa held accountable, they lack the numbers to control the committee's direction.

What the Committee Will Investigate

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza established the 31-member committee after the Constitutional Court ruled that the 2022 parliamentary vote against impeachment was illegal. The committee has been tasked with investigating whether Ramaphosa violated the Constitution or engaged in serious misconduct related to the Phala Phala scandal.

The scandal involves $580,000 that was stolen from Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. Questions have swirled around how the president acquired the foreign currency, whether it was properly declared, and whether he violated the Constitution by not reporting the theft to the authorities promptly.

Gana's First Words: No Delays

"We will be in communication with all the members of the committee in terms of the next processes to be taken. The meeting is adjourned," Gana said after his election, as reported by the Mail & Guardian. He has vowed not to delay the inquiry, signaling that the committee will move swiftly to determine its program of work.

Parliamentary Communication Services officer Faith Ndenze confirmed that the committee will now turn its attention to determining its schedule and the next steps in the inquiry process.

Ramaphosa's Legal Position

The president has stated that he would not oppose the interim findings of the impeachment committee. However, he is simultaneously challenging the Phala Phala independent panel's report in the Western Cape High Court, arguing that the panel misunderstood its mandate and the legal test it was supposed to apply.

This dual approach — not blocking the committee's work while fighting the underlying report in court — suggests the president is trying to navigate a politically sensitive process without appearing to obstruct accountability.

What Comes Next

The committee's next steps will be closely watched. With Gana chairing and a GNU-aligned majority, the process is likely to be methodical rather than explosive. But the presence of a vocal opposition bloc means every procedural decision could become a flashpoint.

South Africans should expect the committee to announce its program of work in the coming days, including hearing schedules and witness lists. The outcome could determine whether Ramaphosa finishes his second term without the cloud of impeachment — or whether South Africa enters uncharted constitutional territory.

— Dante Williams, Global 1 News