The ad hoc committee has rejected an EFF proposal to find that President Cyril Ramaphosa breached his constitutional oversight obligations by failing to facilitate suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel’s appearance before Parliament.
The EFF argued that Ramaphosa’s failure to facilitate Fazel’s appearance amounted to misconduct and undermined Parliament’s oversight of the executive and security services.
Fazel was suspended by Ramaphosa in October 2025 pending a decision in an investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) into the Inspector-General’s conduct after a complaint was laid.
He was invited to testify before the Ad hoc committee which was investigating the wide-ranging allegations of political interference, corruption, and maladministration within the criminal justice system
The committee was set up last year to specifically investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
However Fazel did not testify. In response to the request to appear, he had informed the committee in writing that he could only appear after discussing the matter with Ramaphosa and Cachalia in relation to the disclosure of classified information.
In March this year, he sent correspondence to the committee. He indicated that he had received letters from the Minister in the Presidency and the acting Director General of the State Security Agency who were opposed to him testifying.
The EFF argued during the committee’s deliberations this week that several unsuccessful attempts had been made to facilitate Fazel’s appearance.
“By failing to respond to the committee’s engagements, the president failed to fulfil the obligation and the committee was denied evidence material to the enquiry,” the EFF submission stated.
It further argued that the National Assembly should hold Ramaphosa accountable.
The Inspector-General of Intelligence is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the operations of the country’s intelligence services, including Crime Intelligence. The IGI is accountable to Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.
The Constitution provides for parliamentary oversight of the security services, while the Inspector-General is intended to provide civilian monitoring of intelligence activities.
ANC and MK Party reject proposed finding
ANC MP Gaolatlhe David Kgabo said the committee had not established misconduct by the president.
“This paragraph does not reflect the understanding of the committee and, in our view, it should be rejected,” he said.
MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo said Ramaphosa had an obligation under sections 42(3) and 55(2) of the Constitution to support and assist Parliament. However, he said the committee had not engaged the president sufficiently.
“I agree the president has an obligation in terms of sections 42(3) and 55(2) to support and assist Parliament, but we failed to engage the president. Unfortunately, we agreed that he must appear physically, but we eventually [accepted] a written response. If he had come physically, we could have asked him all these things, but for us to say he did not respond is not fair,” he said.
The EFF proposal was set aside without being defended by the party’s MPs, who did not attend the meeting.
EFF also challenges Ramaphosa over Vuma disclosures
The EFF also wants the committee to find that Ramaphosa failed to act timeously on protected disclosures submitted by former Deputy National Commissioner Francinah Vuma, who was suspended before retiring.
According to the party, Ramaphosa’s failure to act on Vuma’s disclosures contributed to her prolonged suspension and amounted to aiding improper conduct by senior SAPS officials.
Vuma told the committee that she had conducted several investigations into irregularities and misconduct within the SAPS, including matters involving senior officials. The investigations covered irregular contracts, complaints about recruitment processes and forensic audits.
After submitting protected disclosures about her findings, Vuma said she faced harassment and victimisation within the SAPS.
She identified interference and pressure from senior police leadership and political figures who, she said, had attempted to silence her. This included efforts to have her sign non-disclosure agreements.
Nomvalo said Vuma’s prolonged suspension indicated a problem at the highest level of government, but argued that the EFF had not provided sufficient evidence to support its proposed finding.
“That is their opinion and it is for them to support it and give more information about what they mean. We listened to all the witnesses, besides the president only sending written responses,” he said.
ntsikelelo.qoyo@nationalmg.co.za