Parliament says Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nkakula will appoint an independent panel of experts in consultation with political parties to determine any clear evidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mapisa-Nkakula is considering a second motion by African Movement for Transformation leader Vuyo Zungula to remove Ramaphosa after rejecting the first in June.
Zungula referred to Section 89 of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, which deal with the impeachment of the President.
Parliament says the group will have to make recommendations to the speaker within 30 days if there is enough evidence of a violation of the constitution by the president.
Parliament argues that the referral of the panel is not a parliamentary process of impeachment, but an assessment of the evidence presented by legal and constitutional experts to determine whether it is adequate to allow further proceedings in terms of the petition.
“The rules state that the panel shall consist of three fit and proper, competent, knowledgeable and respected South African citizens, who may include a judge, and who collectively possess the requisite legal and other competence and experience to carry out the preliminary assessment of the petition. If a judge is to be appointed, the Speaker must do so in consultation with the Chief Justice. In this regard, the Speaker will today appeal to all political parties represented in the National Assembly to nominate candidates for the collegium no later than Wednesday, September 1, 2022, by 4 o’clock. Each nomination must be in writing and must include the full names of the nominees and a motivation with emphasis on the requirements that apply with the rules,” says Parliamentary Spokesperson Molata Motapa.
In March, the National Assembly debated a vote of no confidence in President Ramaphosa:
