The ANC refuses to be drawn into speculation about what could possibly be contained in the Phala Phala report that was expected to be handed in to speaker of the National Assembly today.
The independent panel, which is chaired by retired former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, is expected to wrap up its report and submit it to speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina would not be drawn into any speculation about what the report might say only saying: “No comment. I'm awaiting [the] report.”
Meanwhile, DA leader John Steenhuisen indicated should the section 89 panel not recommend impeachment against President Cyril Ramaphosa, his party would insist on the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the Phala Phala saga.
Steenhuisen said the scope of a section 89 inquiry is far narrower than an ad hoc committee’s job.
“An ad hoc committee can inquire into a full range of issues, [while] all the section 89 inquiry is tasked with doing is seeing whether there is a prima facie case for a process of impeachment,” he said.
“I think it’s very difficult to make a prima facie case. I think the bar is far higher than it would be for an ad hoc committee to make a finding.
“Because in the absence of a final report from the public protector, in the absence of a final report from the SA Reserve Bank, Sars [South African Revenue Service], Ipid [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] or whoever is tasked with investigating the conduct of Wally Rhoode, I suspect it is going to be incredibly difficult for the section 89 committee to say there is a prima facie case to answer.
“I may be pleasantly surprised, I may be wrong, but I suspect they are going to come back and say, ‘Yes, these are serious allegations, but at this point in time, they remain allegations that are untested and therefore there is no prima facie case at this stage to warrant that,” Steenhuisen said.
He added that he believed Ramaphosa had questions to answer to because he believes there was a clear conflict between the president's personal and business interests.
“He said he reported it to [the] presidential protection unit. The presidential protection unit exists to protect the president in his interests, it exists to protect the president in his role as head of state... It’s not role of the unit to pursue money stolen from one of his businesses. It’s not the unit’s job to facilitate forays into foreign countries, to retrieve monies the president accrues in his private business interests,” Steenhuisen said.
Meanwhile, COPE national spokesperson Dennis Bloem said it was unfortunate that political parties were jumping the gun and threatening to go to court if the report of the panel is negative and finds that Ramaphosa has nothing to answer.
“We view such threats as irresponsible and undemocratic. All of us must respect the outcome of the report, positive or negative.
“Congress of the People does not doubt the integrity, credibility, and credentials of the independent three person's panel. They are highly respected members of society. We believe that they will compile and table a credible report,” he said.
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