By Thys Khiba – Opposition parties including EFF, ATM, COPE, IFP, ACDP,PAC and UDM are planning a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to bring a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Opposition parties will request a follow-up meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly to discuss all accountability issues, including the usage of a secret ballot for motions of no confidence,” EFF leader Julius Malema said.
This comes after they have informed media that they want Ramaphosa out of the office to give space to investigations into the theft of foreign currency from his Phala Phala game farm to proceed undisturbed.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is the only opposition party that has already tabled a section 89 motion to impeach Ramaphosa on charges of breaching the constitution in the Phala Phala scandal in the last few months.
“Parliament must hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable for the violation of laws, his oath of office and the Constitution in terms of what happened at Phala Phala farm where millions of US Dollars were hidden by Mr Ramaphosa.”
Opposition parties have asked the office of the Public Protector (PP) to release the report on the alleged breaches in Phala Phala.
They have argued that this should be treated as a matter of urgency.
“The law allows her to issue another report in the event the investigations is not complete.”
While addressing the media, they have indicated that institutions like SARS, SAPS, SARB and the Financial Intelligence Crime shouldn’t be allowed to be part of, what they call a cover-up mission that seeks to hide that Ramaphosa has allegedly violated the laws of South Africa and the Constitution.
ATM leader Vuyo Zungulwa told media that the Hawks, the Public Protector (PP), the South African Reserve Service (SARS) and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) fears to act against Ramaphosa.
“It should not take 70 days for SARS (South African Revenue Service) to indicate whether the taxes were paid in Phala Phala.”
“We will jointly and individually submit the names of former Judges Mogoeng Mogoeng, Dikgang Moseneke, Bernard Ngoepe, and Yvonne Mokgoro to the Parliamentary Section 89 independent panel that will investigate the conduct of Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa.”
Meanwhile the biggest opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA) has decided to withdraw on Tuesday, after being part of these engagements.
“It remains our view – as previously argued in the meetings with you – that the section 89 process which has been initiated by the ATM should be given the requisite time and runaway to be properly exhausted in parliament,” DA deputy chief whip Siviwe Gwarube wrote.
“This is a historic moment in the national assembly where parliament has, through the newly adopted rules, given effect to the spirit and prescripts of section 89 of the Constitution. Parties now are engaged with nominating candidates for the independent panel that will ascertain the veracity of these allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa,” Gwarube said.
CENTRAL NEWS
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