Johannesburg - Today could be D-Day for President Cyril Ramaphosa following the finalisation of the Section 89 independent inquiry report, which has been tasked with determining whether the president has an impeachable case to answer on the Phala Phala farm matter.
This is because the Section 89 inquiry is expected to hand over its report to the national assembly speaker today, and the Democratic Alliance (DA) has indicated that it is willing to push for an ad hoc committee on the Phala Phala farm scandal should the independent panel probing this matter find that President Cyril Ramaphosa has no case to answer.
This is as the Section 89 Inquiry, headed by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, former head of the Gauteng High Court, Judge Thokozile Masipa, and advocate Mahlape Sello, has finalised its report, which will be given today to national assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula.
The president is alleged to have concealed the theft of millions in foreign currency on his Limpopo farm two years ago.
African Transformation Movement spokesperson Zama Ntshona told The Star that the party was confident the panel would find enough grounds for Ramaphosa to be formally impeached following the finalisation of the report. Ntshona said ATM has confidence in the panel and is not worried that Ramaphosa might be vindicated.
"As the ATM, we are looking forward to the release of the Section 89 Inquiry panel report on the shenanigans of President Cyril Ramaphosa on the cover-up of the Phala Phala farm saga."
"As the ATM, we are also calling for the release of this report for public consumption so that the parliament may be spared being an accomplice to this major cover-up. We are also hoping that the panel has made use of the mountain of evidence given to it by the ATM.
"We welcome the fact that the report will be handed over publicly to the National Assembly Speaker. We are also confident that the verdict will determine that Mr Ramaphosa has a case to answer."
Early this month, the panel tasked with determining whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should face an impeachment inquiry requested an extension to complete its report after it was given until Thursday, November 17, to finalise its work of assessing prima facie evidence against Ramaphosa.
The panel was established after the African Transformation Movement submitted a motion of no confidence following Arthur Fraser’s criminal charges against the president and his head of presidential unit, Wally Rhoode, which were laid in June this year.
At a Monday media briefing, DA leader John Steenhuisen said he was concerned that the Section 89 inquiry would not fully cover the extent of allegations made against Ramaphosa.
He said without the final reports from the Public Protector, South African Reserve Bank, and Independent Police Investigative Directorate, it would be difficult for the inquiry to say the president has a prima facie case to answer.
"The correct procedure would have been for Parliament to initiate an ad hoc committee to call the president and other role players before Parliament to assess the evidence. The concern is that the panel might say these are untested allegations, the prima facie test has not been met, and there is a need for the other agencies to complete their investigations," Steenhuisen said.
If the panel recommends to Parliament that Ramaphosa has a case to answer, their recommendation will be put to a vote in the National Assembly, which reportedly takes place next Tuesday.
A Section 89 impeachment committee will then be established to inquire into the president’s fitness for office.
The Star