Julius Malema Leads Protest Against Parliament’s Rejection of Section 89 Panel Report
Hundreds of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters took to the streets of Johannesburg on Tuesday, marching from Newtown to the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein. The protest coincided with the court’s first hearing on the EFF’s bid to overturn Parliament’s 2022 decision to dismiss the Section 89 panel report. This report suggested President Cyril Ramaphosa might have violated the law in connection with the controversial Phala Phala farm robbery case.
EFF’s Fight for Accountability
Addressing the crowd of red-clad supporters, EFF leader Julius Malema called for holding President Ramaphosa accountable, drawing parallels with the party’s successful legal challenge against former President Jacob Zuma during the Nkandla scandal.
“Every president must be held accountable,” Malema said. “We did the same with Zuma when he spent money on Nkandla. We took him to the Constitutional Court, and they said he must pay back the money. The same thing must happen to Ramaphosa.”
The Phala Phala controversy stems from the alleged theft of $580,000 (R10.56 million) in cash concealed in furniture on Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm in 2020. Critics have questioned why the president reported the matter to his head of Presidential Protection Services instead of the police.
EFF’s Legal Argument
The EFF argues that Parliament acted unlawfully by rejecting the Section 89 panel report and blocking the establishment of an impeachment committee. The report found evidence suggesting Ramaphosa might have committed misconduct, but ANC MPs used their majority to quash further investigations.
Ramaphosa denies any wrongdoing and maintains that the cash came from a legitimate buffalo sale to Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa. He has not been charged with any crime.
Leadership Challenges and Party Loyalty
The march comes amid speculation about the EFF’s future following leadership challenges and high-profile defections, including former deputy leader Floyd Shivambu, to the newly-formed MK party. Malema dismissed concerns about the party’s decline, asserting that the EFF remains resilient.
“No one is going to destroy this organisation,” Malema declared. “The MK party’s agenda is to destroy the EFF because they are protecting the white agenda. We must never allow that.”
Legal Proceedings Against Theft Suspects
In a related case, three suspects accused of stealing the cash from Ramaphosa’s farm appeared in the Modimolle regional court for a pretrial conference. The charges include housebreaking, theft, and money laundering. The trial is set to begin in May 2025.
Conclusion
As the Constitutional Court deliberates on the EFF’s appeal, the protest underscores the party’s continued push for accountability at the highest levels of government. With tensions high and new political rivals emerging, the EFF’s fight over the Phala Phala case will likely remain a focal point of South African politics in the coming months.
