MK Party accuses Section 89 impeachment committee of 'majoritarian abuse' after Madonsela reversal
The uMkhonto weSizwe MK party has accused the Section 89 Impeachment Committee of "majoritarian abuse" after it reversed its decision to appoint Advocate Thandazani Madonsela SC as evidence leader in the inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala matter. The committee is investigating the 2020 Phala Phala theft of US$580,000. By a majority vote, the committee rescinded Madonsela's recommendation after legal services reviewed Ramaphosa's formal objection. The committee has given 31 Members of Parliament from 16 political parties until Friday to submit new nominations for its chief evidence leader. MK party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu stated that the committee, led by the ANC, DA, and their Government of National Unity GNU partners, "defeated logic and constitutional purpose through sheer majoritarianism" by reopening a settled appointment at the request of the president, who is the subject of the inquiry. According to the MK party, Madonsela had disclosed that he served as Ramaphosa's representative to the Judicial Service Commission until 2022 and supervised a legal opinion provided to the ANC by a junior advocate in June 2026. Parliamentary Legal Services found this disclosure immaterial and not a conflict of interest. Mahlangu noted that ANC members on the committee had been aware of the disclosure and raised no objections at the time. He claimed that it was only after Ramaphosa complained of possible bias that his party members sought to review the appointment.