Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called on all MP’s, including those of the ANC to “vote with their conscience” and adopt the section 89 panel’s report on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s conduct regarding the Phala Phala scandal.
MPs at the National Assembly are set to debate the Phala Phala matter next week, following the release of a Section 89 panel report which found that the president may have breached the Constitution and broke anti-corruption laws.
Although the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said it would vote in support of the report, Malema said he was worried about its position, accusing the party of being “highly conflicted”.
Malema made the remarks on Monday afternoon during a media briefing at the EFF’s headquarters in Johannesburg.
“The ANC people will vote with us… Our worry is not the ANC, it is the DA, it is pretending, it is blowing hot and cold.”
Malema said the DA wanted the dissolution of Parliament since it did not want Deputy President David Mabuza to take over from Ramaphosa. In terms of the Constitution, is in line to take over should anything happen to Ramaphosa.
Despite worrying about which direction the DA votes would go, Malema said the opposition was united.
“The numbers look proper, they look good from where they are sitting, we’ve got no doubt… all of the opposition is consolidated and the report will be adopted tomorrow,” Malema spoke hours before the sitting was postponed.
Ramaphosa is accused of concealing the theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala game farm in 2020.
He has denied any wrongdoing, even filing an application to the Constitutional Court to review and set aside the report’s findings.
Malema warned ANC MPs that should they decide not to support the adoption of the report, they would expose themselves as people who endorse corruption.
Source: Mail & Guardian, IOL, Daily Maverick, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @nthulenyane