Gigaba back as defence committee co-chair after ANC’s botched replacement bid

Cape Town – National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has ruled that the removal of former minister Malusi Gigaba as co-chairperson of Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence was not conducted according to the correct parliamentary procedure.

Gigaba was removed from the committee by the African National Congress (ANC) this week and replaced by ANC MP Mzimasi Hala.

The move, however, triggered objections from opposition MPs who questioned whether a vacancy had legally been created before the committee elected his replacement.

Didiza confirmed that her office had not received formal communication from the ANC regarding Gigaba’s change in membership status.

She agreed that the “purported change in the membership of Dr Gigaba without any formal communication is not procedurally correct” and said the committee should return to its previous composition until the proper process has been followed.

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The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Thoko Didiza, has responded to the EFF’s urgent demand concerning the purported election of a new Co-Chairperson of the National Assembly component of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

The Speaker confirmed that she… pic.twitter.com/ovwIKeh5Da

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 4, 2026

The dispute arose during Wednesday’s committee meeting when Hala was elected to replace Gigaba. Committee members questioned whether Gigaba had resigned and whether Parliament had formally been notified of a vacancy.

Gigaba’s removal had been announced by fellow co-chairperson Phiroane Phala, who told members that he had been “relieved from his responsibilities”. ANC MP Windy Plaatjies, however, argued that the ANC did not owe the committee an explanation, describing the matter as a “party matter”.

The EFF subsequently wrote to Didiza asking her to overturn Hala’s election. In its submission, the party argued that there had been no formal ANC letter confirming Gigaba’s withdrawal, no resignation by Gigaba and no announcement of the vacancy through Parliament’s Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports (ATC).

EFF Chief Whip Nontando Nolutshungu said these were “the elementary conditions on which a vacancy exists”.

The party’s challenge is notable because it had previously called for Gigaba to be removed from the committee over corruption charges. In February that EFF MP Carl Niehaus had argued it was inappropriate for Gigaba to remain in the position while facing corruption allegations.

Gigaba is facing corruption charges linked to the controversial Transnet locomotive procurement programme during his tenure as public enterprises minister. The charges form part of a wider case involving several former Transnet executives.