DA lobbies the ANC to vote for Ramaphosa’s impeachment

The DA has started lobbying other political parties and ANC MPs to vote for the process that could lead to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment, says party chief whip Siviwe Gwarube.

“Our interest is less on the ANC internal political drama; more about affirming parliament’s oversight role and our commitment to the rule of law. That is why we are less swayed about what comments the president has said about stepping aside – an ANC phenomenon – and focused more on the parliamentary process.

The National Assembly is tomorrow (Tuesday) expected to debate the report by chief justice Sandile Ngcobo and then vote for or against an impeachment process to investigate whether the president truly did break the law and, by extension, his oath of office.

“We will be urging all MPs to vote for that motion so that we can satisfy ourselves about the innocence or culpability of the president. We cannot have a head of state who has such damning findings hanging over his head not be investigated by the national legislature that he ought to account to,” said Gwaribe.

Gwaribe’s lobby will find resonance among some ANC MPs who have already publicly stated that they will vote for the impeachment process.

The EFF, UDM and ATM made submissions to the Ngcobo panel and are expected to argue and vote for the impeachment process.

Former ANC North West chairperson and premier Supra Mahumapelo told Sowetan’s sister publication, TimesLive. that voting against the impeachment process would be tantamount to showing society the middle finger.

“The panel says he has a case to answer, who are we to say no? Who are we to show society the middle finger?” said Mahumapelo.

Mervin Dirks, who in January called for the parliamentary standing committee to hold Ramaphosa accountable for the leaked audio tapes wherein Ramaphosa was heard making compromising remarks regarding the use of state funds in ANC internal campaigns, also said he would vote for the impeachment process.