Richard Calland quits Parliament’s Phala Phala panel
Associate Professor of Public Law at UCT, Richard Calland, has removed himself from a legal panel that will consider whether there are grounds to impeach President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala saga.
Calland was earlier this month named as a member of the section 89 panel to be chaired by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, and that also includes retired judge Thokozile Masipa.
But some political parties, including the DA and EFF, took issue with Calland's appointment.
They questioned his objectivity, citing comments Calland previously made about Ramaphosa.
READ: Phala Phala: ANC accuses DA of wanting a 'constitutional crisis'
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says while there's no factual basis to corroborate the accusations of bias, it would be best if Calland was excluded.
In a statement, Calland says in light of the objections, he's taken the view of the Speaker that it may not be in the best interest of the parliamentary process that he continue serving on the panel.
Advocate Mahlape Sello has now been appointed to the panel.
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