The Section 89 Impeachment Committee has extended discussions on its inquiry procedures after parties raised differing views on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s participation, evidence presentation and the scope of the process.
MK Party parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe has argued that President Cyril Ramaphosa must personally appear before the Section 89 Impeachment Committee, saying he cannot give evidence through a legal representative or intermediary and warning that the law must take its course if he chooses not to testify.
The committee met on Wednesday to consider party submissions on the draft rules and procedures that will guide the impeachment inquiry into Ramaphosa, following the Independent Panel report that found there was sufficient evidence for Parliament to consider whether the President had a case to answer.
The committee was discussing issues including whether the President should be required to appear before the inquiry, whether adverse inferences could be drawn if he chose not to testify, and the sequence of evidence.
Hlophe said the President’s evidence was central to the process and that the inquiry could not proceed without giving Ramaphosa an opportunity to personally account for the matters before the committee.
