Cape Town - President Cyril Ramaphosa and his detractors will only know his fate in two weeks as Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula extended the deadline for the three-member panel investigating the Phala Phala saga.
The panel, chaired by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo alongside retired Judge Thokozile Masipa and advocate Mahlape Sello, SC, is investigating whether there is prima facie evidence to institute impeachment processes against President Ramaphosa.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the legal trio wrote to Mapisa-Nqakula seeking an extension of the deadline for the submission of their report from November 17 to November 30.
In Justice Ngcobo’s letter, seen by the Cape Argus, he states that the panel met on Monday to assess the inquiry process and determine whether they could make the deadline.
The trio agreed that considering the amount of ground to be covered and their resources, they would not be able to meet the deadline.
“The Speaker concurs with the panel chairperson that the extreme importance of the panel’s work to the members of the National Assembly, the president and the people of South Africa, required the panel to carefully consider all the information and submissions placed before it,” Mothapo said.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo labelled the decision as “opportunism” by Mapisa-Nqakula and the three legal titans.
He said the four had “connived together to institute an extension” for the submission of the Phala Phala report.
The EFF accused Mapisa-Nqakula of being “factional and compromised”.
“The extension effectively means that the report cannot be tabled and heard in Parliament this year, as the fourth term of Parliament ends on December 1,” Thambo said.
“This is yet another delay tactic, objectively to ensure that Ramaphosa is not held accountable before his internal political party elective conference.”
Thambo said Mapisa-Nqakula’s decision stems from “collusion” to shield the president from further scrutiny.
The EFF said it would convene an urgent Parliamentary sitting on whether Ramaphosa has broken his oath of office.