Phala Phala: Must Ramaphosa go? These ANC members voted ‘yes’

Members of Parliament proceeded with the Phala Phala vote to determine whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should face an impeachment committee on Tuesday.

Four African National Congress (ANC) members voted yes, despite requests from several MPs for a secret ballot.

The EFF had earlier warned that a public vote would put lives at risks. EFF leader Julius Malema further stated that there were more than 60 members within the ANC who would have voted yes if the ballot was secret.

Phala Phala in Parliament

Prior to the vote, Malema insinuated that Ramaphosa is a spy working for foreign operatives, due to his “criminal underwold activities”, money laundering, and shady Phala Phala transactions.

In addition, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa was being shielded by the ANC. He also compared Ramaphosa to Jacob Zuma, saying:

“Then it was Nkandla, now its Phala Phala. Then it was a fire pool, now it is couches stuffed with Dollars. Then it was Jacob Zuma, now it is President Cyril Ramaphosa”

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party’s Brent Herron proposed that the National Assembly defer the process pending the outcome of Ramaphosa’s review application at the Constitutional Court.

WATCH: Phala Phala vote: What if the president of SA is a spy? – Malema

Phala Phala voting outcome:

ANC MPs were the first to cast their votes and Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula asked members to submit their vote by only saying, “yes”, “no”, or “abstain” when their names were called.

Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu – who was expected to vote yes – was not present when her name was called.

Other ANC members who weren’t present were:

• Bongani Bongo, currently suspended from the party
• Zweli Mkhize

While the majority of the ruling party members voted no, the following members voted for the President to face the impeachment process:

• Supra Mahumapelo
• Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
• Mervyn Dirks
• Mosebenzi Zwane

Tandi Mahambehlala voted yes but later changed her vote citing confusion. She initially said “party line.” When asked again, she said “yes”. Moments later she asked for her vote to be recorded as ‘no’.