Phala Phala: Ramaphosa to face another motion of no confidence

Opposition parties have confirmed that they will file a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the Phala Phala farm robbery scandal.

The forum of political parties – including Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and African Transformational Movement (ATM), among others –  have been calling for Ramaphosa to be held accountable for the controversial February 2020 robbery that took place at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.

ALSO READ: Phala Phala: ‘Don’t treat us like the media, answer our questions,’ EFF tells Reserve Bank

Briefing the media on Wednesday, EFF leader Julius Malema said all parties, except the DA, agreed to bring a motion of no confidence forward in Parliament.

Malema said, however, the parties want the vote on the motion to be held in secret.

“By the admission of the President that there were dollars under mattresses and sofas of the President, and that resources of the state were used without any case being opened – its reason enough to pass a motion of no confidence against the President,” Malema said on Wednesday.

Press Briefing By Opposition Parties https://t.co/qcI5NLoq49

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) August 17, 2022

Section 89

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula recently accepted a request for a Section 89 inquiry to be established against Ramaphosa.

Therefore, an independent panel will decide whether the president will be subject to a process that may lead to his removal from office in terms of Section 89 of the Constitution and Rule 129A-Q of the National Assembly Rules.

The panel referral, however, does not constitute a parliamentary impeachment process.

The panel must consist of three fit and proper, competent and experienced South Africans, who may include a judge.

READ MORE: MPs unhappy with Phala Phala probe, says intelligence committee ‘bound by secrecy’

On this matter, Malema said: “We will jointly and individually submit the names of former Judges Mogoeng Mogoeng, Dikgang Moseneke, Bernard Ngoepe, and Yvonne Mokgoroto to the Parliamentary Section 89 independent panel that will investigate the conduct of Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.”

The DA has insisted for an ad hoc committee to be set up in order to investigate the allegations against Ramaphosa.

“The DA did not necessarily say they don’t agree with the motion of no confidence. They are saying, we need to give Section 89 chance to complete its process, and only then we can be able to put a motion of no confidence,” the EFF leader said.

“So, if we succeed in the motion of no confidence, it has got no bearing on Section 89,” Malema added.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence has been tasked to look into whether Deputy State Security Minister Zizi Kodwa was involved in the alleged cover-up of the Phala Phala theft and whether a secret crime intelligence fund was used in the undercover operations.

Public Protector picket

The EFF leader also confirmed that the parties would picket to the Public Protector’s office on 9 September, to demand the release of its investigation report.

“We, as political parties, are concerned that it has been more than 70 days since the Phala Phala violation was reported to the police and all the responsible institutions – including the South African Reserve Bank [SARB], the Financial Intelligence Centre [FIC], the South African Revenue Service [Sars], and the South African Police Service [Saps] – have deliberately ignored the parliamentary questions and seemingly involved in a cover-up to shield the sitting president,” he said.

The Public Protector’s office is investigating whether the president violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Code by not reporting the robbery to the police.

READ MORE: Phala Phala farm theft: Ipid to investigate police officers allegedly involved in ‘cover-up’

Ramaphosa, on 22 July, responded to the 31 questions sent to him after he was threatened with a subpoena by Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka for failing to meet the 18 July deadline.

The office has opted not to disclose Ramaphosa’s answers to the public as it was of the view that the information should be kept confidential, in order to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.

The Hawks are also investigating the Phala Phala robbery.

“We know for a fact that the issue of Phala Phala farm is a priority case in the Hawks, and have been wanting to move. But the political interference has always stopped the Hawks from moving,” Malema said.