Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to personally appear before the Ad Hoc Committee, arguing that the head of state must be held directly accountable on matters of national importance under the committee’s mandate.
Malema made the demand during recent parliamentary engagements, where he criticised what he described as a growing culture of avoidance by senior executive figures when summoned to account to Parliament. He insisted that written submissions or representations by ministers and officials were insufficient, particularly when issues under scrutiny involve the president’s constitutional responsibilities.
“The president cannot outsource accountability,” Malema said. “When serious questions are raised that touch on his office, the president must appear before Parliament in person. Anything else undermines transparency and weakens democratic oversight.”
The EFF leader stressed that the Ad Hoc Committee was established precisely to ensure rigorous scrutiny and that excluding the president from direct engagement would defeat its purpose. According to Malema, Ramaphosa’s appearance would demonstrate respect for Parliament and reaffirm the principle that no one is above accountability, including the president.
EFF leader Julius Malema wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before the #AdHocCommittee. pic.twitter.com/pr12OjXUfC
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Malema further argued that allowing the president to avoid appearing before the committee could set a dangerous precedent, where future presidents might similarly sidestep parliamentary processes. He warned that such a trend would erode public confidence in democratic institutions and fuel perceptions that political leaders are shielded from consequences.
The EFF has consistently positioned itself as a vocal advocate for strong parliamentary oversight and has frequently clashed with the African National Congress (ANC) over issues of accountability. Malema reiterated that his party would continue to push for Ramaphosa’s appearance, using all parliamentary mechanisms available to ensure compliance.
While the Presidency has not yet formally responded to Malema’s demand, ANC members have previously argued that the president is entitled to delegate certain responsibilities to ministers, provided that Parliament’s questions are adequately addressed. However, Malema dismissed this argument, stating that delegation cannot replace personal accountability when the issues at hand directly implicate the president.
The call for Ramaphosa to appear before the Ad Hoc Committee is likely to intensify political tensions in Parliament, as opposition parties rally around demands for greater executive accountability. As the debate unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on whether the president will heed the call and appear before the committee, a move that could have significant political and institutional implications.
