ANC delay sparks claims of shielding Ramaphosa in Phala Phala probe

Pretoria – The African National Congress is reportedly facing internal divisions over Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment committee into the Phala Phala scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa, with the party missing the 22 May deadline to submit its representatives.

According to Times Live, the delay stems from a clash within ANC leadership between chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula over who should be deployed to the committee.

Ntuli reportedly favoured experienced MPs who previously served on parliamentary inquiry panels, while Mbalula pushed for other party figures, including Doris Mpapane, Donald Selamolela and Boyce Maneli.

The ANC holds nine of the 31 seats on the committee and is the only major party that failed to meet the deadline, while the DA, MK Party and EFF had already submitted their nominees.

“Delays in the submission of names mean that the committee cannot be constituted and therefore cannot meet to elect a chairperson and consider a programme. Delays in such an important process are not in the public interest,” the report quoted one insider as warning.

However, the EFF has strongly rejected claims that the delay is merely the result of internal ANC disagreements. Party spokesperson Sinawo Thambo described the explanation as “dishonest” and a “deliberate political smokescreen,” arguing that the ANC is intentionally obstructing the process.

The EFF’s Statement Condemning ANC’s Deliberate Obstruction of Phala Phala Impeachment Committee

-By withholding its nominees, the ANC is deliberately undermining the implementation of Section 89 and frustrating the lawful functioning of Parliament. The ANC knows fully well… pic.twitter.com/dVDxHBWPUV

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 24, 2026

“The real issue is not ANC infighting,” Thambo said, alleging that the governing party is withholding its nominees to “delay and frustrate the work of the committee itself” and ultimately weaken accountability efforts under Section 89 of the Constitution.

He further accused the ANC of trying to shield Ramaphosa from scrutiny over the Phala Phala matter, claiming that delays are part of a broader political strategy to undermine the impeachment process before it properly begins.

It is orchestrated. There is no reality where the ANC would fight about deployment in a committee to the point where deployment does not happen.

That has never happened in its history. They are trying to undermine and delay the impeachment process, because its composition must… https://t.co/tb5WUpHxB1

— Sinawo Thambo (@Sinawo_Thambo) May 24, 2026

Thambo also raised concerns about alleged meetings involving Speaker Thoko Didiza and ANC-linked legal representatives, suggesting these interactions could influence the process.

The dispute comes as pressure mounts for Parliament to proceed with the committee following a Constitutional Court ruling ordering that impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala farm cash scandal be reopened.