The Economic Freedom Fighters has urged Magashule Gana of Rise Mzansi, recently appointed chairperson of Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment committee, to preside over proceedings with impartiality as the panel commences its investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s actions concerning the Phala Phala farm matter.
EFF Treasurer-General Omphile Maotwe confirmed the party’s support for moving forward with the committee’s work, emphasizing that the process has been delayed since the alleged 2020 burglary at the Phala Phala wildlife ranch only gained public attention in 2022 following a media statement by President Ramaphosa. According to Maotwe, the EFF was forced to approach the Constitutional Court after majority parties in Parliament sought to prevent the matter from advancing to an impeachment committee, despite an independent panel concluding there was prima facie evidence warranting the President’s response to questions about foreign currency found at his residence.
“The President himself confirmed that the money existed and that it was stolen,” Maotwe stated. “It is inconsistent to dispute the panel’s findings when the President has already acknowledged these facts.”
While the EFF had put forward Dr. Wonderboy Mohlatsi as its preferred candidate for committee chair, the ANC and DA jointly supported Gana’s nomination. Maotwe expressed satisfaction that the ANC did not obtain the chairmanship but stressed that Gana must remain free from partisan pressure or influence from the parties that backed his election. She referenced Gana’s post-election conduct, noting he was seen shaking hands with ANC and DA representatives but not with EFF delegates, though she affirmed the party remains willing to work with him provided he upholds fairness.
The EFF maintains that President Ramaphosa has violated his constitutional oath of office. Maotwe highlighted several unresolved issues central to the inquiry: the President’s possession of undeclared US dollars, uncertainty regarding how the currency entered South Africa, and conflicting accounts about an alleged wildlife sale transaction. She also recalled Ramaphosa’s previous remark describing the presidency as a “side job” to his farming enterprises, which she argued underscores the need for rigorous accountability.
On the matter of potential legal challenges, Maotwe recognized the President’s right to seek judicial review of the Section 89 report but characterized such efforts as attempts to delay proceedings. She underscored that the Constitutional Court’s directive referring the matter to the impeachment committee remains binding, with no active interdict currently suspending the committee’s operations. The panel has initiated the appointment of an evidence leader and will subsequently finalize its terms of reference.
Maotwe cautioned that any obstruction of the committee’s mandate could prompt contempt of court applications with serious consequences. “We are acting on an order from the highest court in the land,” she said, reaffirming the EFF’s determination to see the process through without interference. She noted that South Africans have awaited answers on the Phala Phala matter for six years.
Gana has publicly committed to ensuring the inquiry proceeds without unnecessary delays—an assurance Maotwe said is already enforceable under the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the impeachment process must advance. The EFF will monitor proceedings closely to ensure adherence to constitutional principles and procedural fairness.