For a soundbite of the Chairperson of the committee, Mr Makashule Gana, please click here: https://iono.fm/e/1704342
Parliament, Wednesday, 8 August 2026 – The Impeachment Committee for the Section 89 Enquiry today agreed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be requested to appear before it.
The Impeachment Committee met today to consider, among other things, the legal opinion on the appearance of the President, its recommendation for the appointment of the evidence leader and the draft terms of reference that will guide its work.
In considering the legal opinion, the committee agreed that the President will not be the first witness to appear before the committee. It must first establish a case to which the President can respond.
Chairperson of the committee, Mr Makashule Gana, noted the committee’s powers under the Constitution. “We hope that the matter will not reach the point where the President must be summoned. However, if he refuses to appear, the committee will have to summon him.”
The committee further resolved to recommend the appointment of Advocate Thandazani Madonsela SC as evidence leader. “Now that the committee has made its recommendation, the matter will be referred to the Secretary to Parliament to make the appointment,” the Chairperson said. “The committee recommends a candidate, after which Parliament’s administrative processes take effect.”
In considering the draft terms of reference, Members were allowed to make further inputs. The document as amended following inputs will now be referred to Parliament’s Legal Services Division for refinement. “This will include ensuring consistency in the use of language and applying a uniform drafting style,” Mr Gana said. Once that work has been completed, the document will again be presented to the committee. The Chairperson noted that following the deliberations today, the committee is close to finalising its terms of reference.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE ON SECTION 89 ENQUIRY, MR MAKASHULE GANA.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Alicestine October (Ms)
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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