By 
CAPE TOWN — In a major constitutional milestone, Parliament has officially finalized the roster for the newly established Section 89 Impeachment Committee.
The high-stakes panel is tasked with determining whether to institute formal impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the long-running Phala Phala matter.
The formation of the committee follows a recent landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court, which effectively revived the stalled impeachment proceedings and mandated that the National Assembly take immediate legislative action. National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza confirmed that the multi-party body will consist of 31 members.
While designed to include representation from all 16 political parties in the House, the final makeup sits at 14 parties after both the GOOD party and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) declined to participate. Both organizations cited logistical constraints, noting that their sole parliamentary representatives currently serve within the executive branch.
A Battle of Political Heavyweights
The committee’s composition guarantees fierce political sparring, drawing some of the country’s most prominent parliamentary figures. The African National Congress (ANC) holds the largest share of seats on the panel, anchoring its presence with senior members including Mrs. DE Mpapane, Mr. X Nqola, Mr. MS Lekganyane, Ms. AF Muthambi, Mr. CM Dugmore, Ms. DR Direko, Mr. BM Maneli, and Mr. MG Mahlaule, with Ms. LS Makhubela and Ms. KJ Maimela serving as alternates. Despite missing the initial Friday, May 22 deadline, the ruling party submitted its final list over the weekend.
The official opposition and major political rivals have put forward formidable legal and political minds to challenge the ruling party’s numerical dominance:
- Democratic Alliance (DA): The caucus will be represented by high-profile members including Adv. G Breytenbach, Mr. G Michalakis, Mr. BB Nodada, Ms. KL Khakhau, and Ms. NK Sharif.
- uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP): The newly prominent political force has deployed its parliamentary leader, Dr. MJ Hlophe, alongside Mrs. SMN Mokoena-Zondi and Dr. K Litchfield-Tshabalala.
- Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF): EFF leader Mr. JS Malema will personally anchor his party’s presence on the panel alongside Ms. OMC Maotwe.
Other notable committee members from smaller parties include veteran lawmaker Mr. SN Swart (ACDP), Mr. NLS Kwankwa (UDM), Mr. SM Gana (Rise Mzansi), Mr. V Zungula (ATM), and ActionSA’s Ms. LM Ngobeni, with Mr. RAP Trollip acting as an alternate.
Maimane’s Return to the Accountability Frontline
Among the most notable appointments is Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader, Dr. Mmusi Maimane, who will occupy his party’s single allocated seat.
BOSA leadership emphasized that Maimane brings critical “institutional memory” to a committee of this magnitude. More than a decade ago, Maimane served on the highly contentious Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee, which investigated former President Jacob Zuma following the Public Protector’s damning findings regarding the misuse of public funds at his private homestead.
In an official statement, BOSA made it clear that they view the committee’s work as a grave constitutional obligation rather than a partisan arena. The party warned against letting the process devolve into a mere “numbers game” aimed at shielding President Ramaphosa from executive scrutiny.
“South Africans demand a process that is transparent, evidence-based and firmly grounded in the rule of law,” BOSA stated, pledging that its participation would be strictly guided by ethical leadership and absolute accountability, “without fear or favour.”
The Constitutional Road Ahead
With the names finalized, the Impeachment Committee is under intense public pressure to deliver a fair and rigorous assessment. Unlike ordinary ad-hoc committees, this body operates under the immense legal weight of Section 89 of the Constitution.
As proceedings begin, the primary tension will lie between the ANC’s desire to manage the political fallout for its sitting head of state, and an aggressive, heavyweight opposition bench determined to leverage the Constitutional Court’s directive to hold the executive fully accountable. For a public weary of political scandals, this inquiry will serve as a definitive test of Parliament’s independent oversight capabilities.
