There are no delays for the impeachment committee to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Phala Phala saga.

• The Secretary to the National Assembly confirmed no delays for the impeachment committee during a Thursday meeting.
• The Rules Committee referred draft rules back to its subcommittee for clarification on MP eligibility criteria.
• The committee, chaired by Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana, was formed after a Constitutional Court ruling revived President Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment over the Phala Phala saga.

There are no delays for the impeachment committee, the Secretary to the National Assembly told senior MPs on Thursday morning.

During a meeting of the National Assembly Programme Committee, EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi asked for an update on the committee's progress, expressing concern that its work might be delayed.

Secretary to the National Assembly Masibulele Xaso said he was not aware of any delays with the impeachment committee.

Last Monday, the impeachment committee held its first meeting, during which it elected Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana as its chairperson.

READ | Phala Phala: EFF pushes back against ‘fit-and-proper’ requirement for impeachment panel

On Wednesday, the Rules Committee referred draft rules on the impeachment committee back to the rules subcommittee to clear up issues around whether there should be a requirement that only fit and proper MPs may serve on the committee.

Mkhaliphi’s party vehemently objected to the inclusion of such a provision.

The Rules Committee unanimously agreed to refer the matter back to the subcommittee, Xaso said. He said more detailed procedures on the functioning of the impeachment committee have been sent to it for its consideration.

“It is now up to the committee when it meets. So, there are no delays that we are aware of.

Last week, during the debate on the Presidency’s budget vote, Gana made it clear that the committee would proceed with its work unless a court says otherwise.

The committee was established in the wake of a Constitutional Court ruling that effectively restarted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment over Phala Phala.