FF REJECTS THE BIASED APPOINTMENTS BY NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA FOR THE INDEPENDENT PANEL TO INVESTIGATE PHALA PHALA FARM
Wednesday, 14 September 2022
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejects the appointments made by National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, for the Independent Panel to investigate whether there is prima facie evidence of criminal activity on Phala Phala Farm. Her appointments are irrational, bias and are a complete disregard of the consultative process with political parties represented in Parliament.
Mapisa-Nqakula has essentially spat in the face of the South African people and our democracy, by appointing people who were not nominated by at least one of nine opposition political parties represented in Parliament. These are political parties who have been given a mandate by the South African people to represent their interests in their majority.
Her appointments have no regard for the nominations by a majority of the opposition parties represented in Parliament and at face value, are to the detriment of accountability. The "Independent Panel" will undoubtedly be bias and will favour Ramaphosa, by defending his money laundering and use of state resources to conceal a crime as not an ethical breach of the Constitution.
The most appalling of the appointments, is that of Richard Calland, who is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town and an unrepentant advocate and admirer of Ramaphosa. He has on multiple occasions taken platform on broadcast, print and social media to laud Cyril Ramaphosa for factional activity within the ANC, and even going to the extent of giving him advise on policy, and how to approach governance at the expense of his detractors and political opponents.
Calland has criticised Members of Parliament for holding Ramaphosa accountable and publicly declared his support for Ramaphosa to get a second term at the ANC
Presidency on social media. He does not have a strand of Independence in him, and is a self-styled political analyst who will denigrate the process with his blind hatred for Ramaphosa's political enemies.
Mapisa-Nqakula has brought shame to Parliament and the Constitution of South Africa with appointments which are pre-determined and will absolve Ramaphosa of his breach of his oath of office.
The EFF will consult with other political parties represented in Parliament to reverse the appointment of a panel of Ramaphosa's cheerleaders. The prerogative to appoint members of the panel given to the Speaker does not mean she can do so without rationality and consideration of nominations by other political parties.
She has followed in the footsteps of her principle, who disregarded recommendations by the Judicial Service Commission on the appointment of the Chief Justice and appointed the candidate with the least support to serve in that office, disregarding a consultative process.
It is a tendency of a dictator who seeks to practice a factional defence of her employer and must never be allowed to go unchallenged. Mapisa-Nqakula has allowed herself to be used as a pawn by Ramaphosa.
With this level of the Speaker's desperate attempts to protect Ramaphosa, we will be left with no option but to table a motion of no confidence against her as a Speaker.
Statement issued by the EFF, 14 September 2022
