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ActionSA notes with serious concern the decision by the ANC, Patriotic Alliance (PA), and Al Jama-ah to abstain from the vote to appoint an evidence leader for Parliament's Section 89 impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Their abstention demonstrates a troubling disregard for Parliament's constitutional responsibility under Section 89. The appointment of an evidence leader is a critical procedural step to ensure that the inquiry is conducted fairly, independently, and credibly, to ensure that it is beyond reproach.

South Africans have seen the ANC repeatedly defend the indefensible conduct of both its current and immediate past President. Today's abstention bears all the hallmarks of that same approach. It is equally concerning that two other parties in the Government of National Unity, the IFP and the UDM, chose to absent themselves from the meeting entirely rather than participate in this important decision.

By refusing to participate in this vote, these parties have failed in their oversight responsibilities and have begun undermining the integrity of the impeachment process before it has even commenced.

ActionSA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the Section 89 inquiry proceeds in full compliance with the Constitution and gives effect to the recent Constitutional Court judgment. South Africans deserve credible process, and parliament must place constitutional accountability above narrow party-political interests.

Issued by ActionSA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip