PRETORIA, Gauteng — The MK Party has strongly condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent objection to the appointment of Advocate Thandazani Madonsela as the evidence leader for the Phala Phala impeachment committee. MK Party Member of Parliament Andile Mngxitama described the President’s move as a calculated delaying tactic designed to evade accountability regarding the alleged 2020 theft of foreign currency from his Limpopo farm.
Ramaphosa’s legal team raised concerns that Madonsela may have a real or perceived conflict of interest. The President cited Madonsela’s removal from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) shortly after the 2022 interviews for the Chief Justice appointment as grounds for the objection. Furthermore, Ramaphosa’s camp argued that Madonsela previously provided legal advice to the African National Congress (ANC) regarding the potential impeachment of its president, thereby granting him prior knowledge of relevant issues.
Mngxitama firmly rejected these claims, asserting that Madonsela is a professional of integrity who had already fully disclosed his past involvement before the committee voted. According to Mngxitama, Madonsela submitted a detailed letter to the committee explaining his minimal role in the ANC’s legal matters and dispelling any notions of a conflict.
The MK Party spokesperson emphasized that the committee’s decision to appoint Madonsela was reached through a democratic, open, and transparent voting process. He contrasted Madonsela’s position with that of the other candidate, Advocate Kate Hoffmeyer, whom the MK Party argued was the one with a genuine conflict of interest. Mngxitama pointed out that Hoffmeyer has represented President Ramaphosa on numerous occasions and failed to disclose this history, allegedly hoping the matter would be overlooked.
Addressing the ANC members who abstained from the vote, Mngxitama stated that they did not raise Madonsela’s alleged conflict as a reason during debates or discussions. He argued that the ANC chose to abstain of their own volition, and the committee cannot now reinvent facts to justify a process that has already concluded.
Mngxitama warned that the President’s objections represent a consistent pattern of behavior aimed at delaying his appearance before the committee. He noted that Ramaphosa had already taken the committee to court, securing a temporary reprieve from testifying until his review application is heard. The MK Party views the latest objection as an attempt to bully the independent parliamentary committee into reversing its decision and installing an evidence leader more favorable to the President.
Looking ahead, the MK Party confirmed that the impeachment committee will proceed with its preparatory work, including a planned local inspection of the Phala Phala farm. The objective of the visit is to investigate how the foreign currency allegedly arrived in South Africa and ended up stuffed inside furniture at the presidential residence.
Mngxitama concluded by highlighting the severity of the allegations, which include claims of torture and abduction of individuals linked to the incident. He urged President Ramaphosa to stop hiding behind judicial processes and surrender to the committee’s proceedings, stating that the President will be vindicated if he has nothing to hide.