The ANC has missed Parliament’s deadline to submit the names of MPs who will serve on the Phala Phala impeachment committee investigating President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to sources within Parliament and the ANC, disagreements between ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli over who should represent the party caused the delay.Parliament speaker Thoko Didiza had set 22 May as the deadline, but the ANC reportedly failed to finalise its nominations in time.

The 31-member committee is expected to play a major role in overseeing the impeachment inquiry linked to the Constitutional Court ruling on the Phala Phala matter.The ANC holds nine seats on the committee, while other parties such as the DA, MK Party and EFF have already submitted their representatives.Sources warned that continued delays could prevent the committee from meeting, electing a chairperson and starting its work.Internal ANC divisions also emerged over who should chair the committee.

Some senior ANC figures believe the chairperson should come from outside the ANC, possibly from the IFP or Rise Mzansi, to ensure transparency and public trust.Others argue the ANC should retain control because the process could strongly influence the political environment ahead of next year’s elections.At the same time, tensions escalated between Didiza and DA parliamentary leader George Michalakis.Michalakis accused Didiza of compromising her impartiality by discussing the Constitutional Court judgment with ANC leaders and party lawyers.

Didiza rejected the allegations, saying it was part of her constitutional responsibilities as Speaker to engage with stakeholders regarding Parliament’s implementation of the court ruling.

The EFF also raised concerns about the Speaker’s meetings with ANC representatives, although the party said there was no evidence yet that Didiza had obstructed the impeachment process.