Cape Town – Five ANC MPs, who voted in support of a report seeking to impeach President Cyril Ramaphosa, may face the national disciplinary committee, a report said on Wednesday.
This comes after ANC chief whip, Pemmy Majodina recommended that the MPs be disciplined following the parliament vote on Tuesday, TimesLIVE reported.
President Ramaphosa on Tuesday survived a vote in parliament on whether to initiate impeachment proceedings that could have forced him to step down as South African leader.
“I’ve met ANC national officials and made a submission that they must be referred to the national disciplinary committee,” TimesLive quoted Majodina as saying.
Majodina said that this was in line with rule 25 of the party’s constitution, the report said.
A few ANC lawmakers, including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma – Ramaphosa’s rival, a cabinet minister and former president Jacob Zuma’s ex-wife voted in favour of impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa.
“As a disciplined member of the ANC, I vote yes,” Dlamini-Zuma said, drawing cheers and loud applause from some opposition MPs.
ANC presidential candidates Zweli Mkhize, Lindiwe Sisulu and Bonging Bonga were reportedly not in parliament during the vote.
Speaking to eNCA during an interview, ANC national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe said the ANC process will take its course but did not divulge what those processes entailed
“The five members who have voted with the opposition, the ANC processes will take their course.
“The process could entail anything, you report to the committee looking on discipline and it decides what actions,” said Gwede adding that “We can’t put the cart before the horse,” said Mantashe.
Meanwhile, Dlamini-Zuma has defended her decision to vote in favour of the impeachment, saying that Mantashe was aware of her reasons, reported EWN.
“I’m a public representative so I voted according to my understanding of the report. I read it thoroughly and I supported it,” Dlamini-Zuma was quoted as saying.
She said that she was not concerned about any consequences, the report said.
“Well, I serve at the behest of the president. If he wants to reshuffle me, even this minute, it’s his right, it’s his democratic right. So, I won’t hold it against him,” she was quoted as saying.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
