Cape Town – For the first time in South Africa’s democratic history, a parliamentary committee established to consider the possible impeachment of a sitting president will meet on Monday.
The 31-member committee’s first task will be to elect a chairperson.
The committee was formed after the Constitutional Court of South Africa ordered Parliament to consider misconduct allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa relating to the 2020 theft of more than $500,000 from his Phala Phala farm.
The Impeachment Committee investigating President Cyril Ramaphosa holds its inaugural meeting today. The first order of business is the election of a chairperson for the 31-member body, which is examining the 2020 theft of foreign currency from the president’s Phala Phala farm.… pic.twitter.com/E9LYczNzlj
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 1, 2026
Although Ramaphosa has applied to have a 2022 independent panel report reviewed by the courts, Parliament is proceeding with the process in line with the Constitutional Court’s directive and parliamentary rules.
The committee is not expected to begin substantive work immediately, as political parties are still developing proposals on how the inquiry should be conducted, EWN reported.
Current impeachment rules provide only a broad framework and do not detail how investigations should be carried out.
There is also uncertainty over who will chair the committee. While the ANC holds a majority, some members may be reluctant to lead proceedings against their own president. Opposition parties are expected to push for one of their representatives to chair the committee to ensure what they describe as full accountability in the Phala Phala matter.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
