Tempers Flare in Parliament Over Rules for Ramaphosa Phala Phala Impeachment Inquiry

Parliament’s ongoing efforts to establish rules for the Section 89 impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa descended into heated exchanges on Wednesday evening, with political parties sharply divided over how the process should move forward following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Phala Phala matter.

Tensions emerged during a meeting of Parliament’s Sub-Committee on the Review of National Assembly Rules, where lawmakers debated proposed amendments that will guide the impeachment inquiry linked to allegations surrounding the president’s Phala Phala farm scandal.

The meeting focused on developing a framework for how the inquiry committee should operate after the Constitutional Court ruled that aspects of Parliament’s previous handling of the matter were inconsistent with the Constitution. The judgment effectively forced lawmakers to revisit the impeachment process and establish a clearer mechanism for the inquiry.

A major point of contention during the discussions was whether finalising the revised rules would slow down the impeachment committee’s work. Members of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party argued that Parliament risked delaying accountability by spending too much time refining procedural matters instead of allowing the inquiry to proceed immediately.

MK Party MP Mzwanele Manyi openly challenged the approach adopted by the committee, questioning whether the rules review process was becoming an obstacle rather than a support mechanism for the inquiry.

Manyi insisted that the Constitutional Court ruling required urgency and warned against unnecessary delays. He argued that Parliament should already be moving ahead with substantive investigations into the allegations linked to the president instead of becoming trapped in procedural debates.

The comments triggered a tense exchange with committee chairperson Doris Mpapane of the African National Congress, who defended the ongoing process and rejected suggestions that Parliament was dragging its feet.

Mpapane maintained that the drafting and refinement of the rules were not preventing the impeachment committee from carrying out preparatory work. She told MPs that there was no provision in the proposed regulations stating that the inquiry had to pause until every procedural issue had been finalised.

According to Mpapane, administrative and operational preparations were already continuing behind the scenes, despite the ongoing deliberations over the rules framework. She urged members not to create the impression that Parliament was ignoring the court ruling or intentionally frustrating the process.

The disagreement highlighted broader political tensions surrounding the Phala Phala scandal, which has remained a source of intense scrutiny for Ramaphosa since allegations first emerged regarding large sums of foreign currency allegedly stolen from his Limpopo game farm.

Opposition parties and critics have repeatedly accused Parliament of previously failing to hold the president accountable, leading to the Constitutional Court challenge that ultimately overturned parts of the National Assembly’s earlier approach.

The latest debates also exposed divisions over how Parliament should balance speed with procedural fairness. Some MPs argued that rushing the inquiry without comprehensive rules could create legal complications later, while others insisted that further delays could undermine public confidence in Parliament’s oversight role.

Parties represented on the sub-committee have submitted various proposals aimed at strengthening the Section 89 process, including provisions relating to evidence gathering, witness procedures, timelines and committee powers. Lawmakers are now expected to continue negotiating these proposals before a final framework is adopted.

The impeachment inquiry is expected to become one of the most politically significant parliamentary processes ahead of future national elections, with opposition parties likely to intensify pressure on the governing ANC over accountability and transparency.

Despite the clashes during the meeting, Parliament appears determined to proceed with establishing a functioning inquiry mechanism in line with the Constitutional Court’s judgment. However, the sharp disagreements witnessed during deliberations suggest that the road ahead could remain politically charged as parties battle over both process and substance in the Phala Phala matter.