Mbalula brands Maimane 'man with one seat', blocks Phala Phala chair bid

THE ANC has poured cold water on any prospect of Mmusi Maimane chairing Parliament's impeachment committee probing the Phala Phala scandal, with Fikile Mbalula dismissing him as a “man with one seat” and declaring the governing party would not back his appointment.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

Mbalula said the ANC is not entering the impeachment committee process to defend President Cyril Ramaphosa, but is instead guided by the Constitutional Court's ruling.

This comes after BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane raised concerns that the process could be compromised if an ANC member is chosen to chair the committee.

Mbalula said the ANC will not back Maimane’s bid for the position.

“We are not going into the impeachment process to defend. We are going into the impeachment guided by the ruling of the constitutional court and follow all matters step by step up to the latter. “If at the end the president has to appear before the impeachment committee, we have acted, even in the adult committee, we have acted without fear or favour against our own.

“Where does this thing that Mmusi Maimane talks about and formulate an unfounded principle? I mean, Maimane has got ambitions to chair the committee. It’s all in his own head. He must come forward about it, and then I can tell you now we will not support it.”

Mbalula said Maimane was seeking to chair the committee.

“Mmusi Maimane is just formulating his own rules. I know he wants to chair the committee.

“He has made an overchoice to us, a man with one seat (in Parliament). We can also argue. We have given him more than what he can handle in that parliament, appropriation committee, and one seat.