Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

23 June 2026

2-minute read

Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Thoko Didiza has decided not to oppose President Ramaphosa’s interdict of the impeachment committee, appearing to go against legal advice and presumably playing party politics.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo pointed out that the Speaker is the “guide to the National Assembly” to fulfil its national mandate and has done everything that was required of her in this matter. Didiza is “firmly aligned” to the decision of the Constitutional Court, and even though the position taken by her is not identical to that of the Impeachment Committee, they are “complimentary and mutually reinforcing.” Didiza was directed to establish the Impeachment Committee, and it is her responsibility to execute the orders of the court. Furthermore, she was directed by the court to ensure that the rules are “processed and amended in accordance with the directions of the court.”

“This is a clear legal strategy” where the judges are more concerned with the substance of what is being presented to them than they are with who is opposing and who is not. Moloto said that it is “really perplexing to think” that people view the National Assembly and the Impeachment Committee as being at odds with each other, as the purpose of both is to uphold the fundamental constitution and obligation of parliament.

The leaked legal opinion provides two scenarios – to abide or to oppose – and one was chosen by the Speaker. This is a weighty constitutional matter, and legal counsel was taken by the speaker, who is duty bound to consider all the options, beforehand. However, a legal opinion is a mere opinion and is not a court injunction or a court ruling.

According to Moloto, Thoko Didiza considered all options before applying her mind and coming to a decision.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Moloto Mothapo here.