Impeachment Committee could summon Ramaphosa to testify

President Cyril Ramaphosa could be compelled to appear before Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee if he declines an invitation to testify voluntarily.

The committee, which is investigating whether Ramaphosa has a case to answer over the 2020 Phala Phala farm scandal, received a legal opinion on Wednesday confirming its powers to summon witnesses if they refuse to appear.

Committee chairperson, Makashule Gana, said MPs would first invite Ramaphosa to give evidence voluntarily before considering any legal process.

Gana added that Ramaphosa is not expected to be the first witness called when the committee begins hearing evidence.

The committee has also recommended Senior Counsel, Advocate Thandazani Madonsela, as its preferred evidence leader for the impeachment inquiry.

Madonsela, who was nominated by the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF), secured nine votes during Wednesday’s meeting and will now be recommended to the Secretary of Parliament for formal appointment.

Once appointed, Madonsela will be supported by two additional evidence leaders who will assist in guiding witness testimony and the presentation of evidence.

The committee remains in the preparatory phase of the impeachment process, with public hearings on hold after the Western Cape High Court granted Ramaphosa an interim order halting that part of the inquiry.

The committee has, however, filed an appeal against the ruling with the Constitutional Court.

The committee was also advised to establish the veracity and, where necessary, the seriousness of the charges before reporting its findings to the National Assembly. Any recommendation to remove the President would ultimately require the support of two-thirds of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to oppose applications for leave to appeal the Western Cape High Court’s decision to halt public hearings into Parliament’s impeachment inquiry.

The interdict will remain in place pending the High Court’s review of Parliament’s Phala Phala report, which Ramaphosa believes is flawed.

In an affidavit filed with the Constitutional Court, Ramaphosa argues that the applications by the Impeachment Committee, EFF, ATM and MK Party to appeal the ruling lack merit.

National Coloured Congress leader and MP, Fadiel Adams, has been suspended from Parliament until the end of the month.

His suspension emerged during the committee’s vote on the evidence leader after he failed to attend the meeting.

Adams is expected to appear before the Madlanga Commission next Tuesday, where he will be questioned about the controversial Section 27 affidavit that triggered a corruption investigation involving several Crime Intelligence officials.

Committee’s Secretary, Thembinkosi Ngoma, confirmed that Parliament suspended Adams on Monday. 

The committee has now handed its draft terms of reference to Parliament’s legal team for fine-tuning and will not hold its usual meeting next week while the document is finalised.

Legal advisers are also expected to determine whether the terms of reference should be released for public consultation before the inquiry proceeds to its next phase.

1/MUST WATCH: The Chairperson of @ParliamentofRSA’s #Impeachment Committee for #Section89Inquiry, Mr @Makashule Gana explains the outcome of today’s meeting and what to expect next. @SABCNews @eNCA @Newzroom405 @SAfmRadio @POWER987News @SABCNews_Radio @News24 @IOL pic.twitter.com/jFOgpaDyLo

— Impeachment Committee on Section 89 Enquiry (@Impeachment_S89) August 5, 2026