Makashule Gana, a member of parliament for Rise Mzansi, was elected chairperson of the Phala Phala Impeachment Committee on Monday, June 1, 2026.

The appointment places Gana at the center of a high-stakes constitutional process that could determine the future of South Africa's presidency. The committee is tasked with reviewing evidence regarding the alleged theft of foreign currency at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm.

The formation of the committee follows a Constitutional Court ruling that upheld a Section 89 independent panel report. This report provided prima facie evidence of wrongdoing, necessitating a formal parliamentary process to allow the president to answer the allegations.

The newly established impeachment committee consists of 31 members [1]. Gana's election to the chair followed a contested vote in the South African Parliament. While some opposition coalition members had supported Bantu Mahlatsi of the UAT for the role, Gana secured the position.

As chairperson, Gana will oversee the inquiry and the presentation of evidence. The process is designed to determine if the president's actions constitute a serious violation of the law or the constitution, which could lead to formal impeachment proceedings.

The Phala Phala scandal has remained a point of intense political friction in South Africa. The investigation focuses on the discovery and subsequent handling of a large sum of foreign currency found in a bedroom at the president's property, an event that has triggered years of legal battles and political instability.

“Makashule Gana was elected chairperson of the Phala Phala Impeachment Committee”

The election of a Rise Mzansi representative to lead the committee suggests a shift in the parliamentary balance of power, as the process moves from judicial review to legislative scrutiny. By establishing a 31-member body to investigate a sitting president, the South African Parliament is testing the strength of its oversight mechanisms and the resilience of the country's constitutional framework against executive power.