- The ANC has called an urgent caucus meeting ahead of a National Assembly vote on an inquiry into Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's fitness to hold office.
- The party has been openly divided about the matter.
- An inquiry will need support from part of the ANC's caucus, at least.
The ANC's parliamentary caucus has called a special meeting ahead of a National Assembly vote on Tuesday afternoon on whether the legislature should institute an inquiry into Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's fitness to hold office.
ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe is expected to address the meeting.
In recent days, divisions among ANC MPs have spilt into the open over whether the party should support such an inquiry. These led to reports of an unusual meeting between chief whip Pemmy Majodina and the party's top six on Monday.
Caucus spokesperson Sinetemba Jakavula confirmed Tuesday's lunch meeting: "There are internal matters to be discussed." But Jakavula didn't elaborate.
When approached for comment, Majodina said she wasn't prepared to talk about the matter.
The meeting comes after the ANC top six was told that a number of MPs expressed their unhappiness about supporting the opposition in the matter.
If ANC MPs overwhelmingly argue against supporting the vote in the caucus meeting, it is likely that the vote will be postponed.
ANC MP Kebby Maphatsoe is the latest MP to publicly oppose the vote. He confirmed that he wrote a letter to secretary-general Ace Magashule, saying the ANC could not support he vote.
"We can never support the opposition," he told News24 on Tuesday.
The last caucus meeting on Thursday, the scheduled time for the party's weekly caucuses, was longer than usual due to disagreements between MPs over the matter.
ALSO READ | ANC MP contradicts party chief whip on Mkhwebane vote
Over the weekend, Majodina issued a statement saying the caucus supported the process to hold an inquiry.
Maphatsoe said this was not true "as not everyone was allowed to speak".
Magashule earlier said no "principled" ANC MP would vote in favour of the inquiry, which needs a simple 50 percent plus one majority in the National Assembly.
The ANC holds 249 out of the 400 seats so a vote in favour of an inquiry would need support from at least part of the governing party's caucus.
ANC MPs, Mervyn Dirks and Supra Mahumapelo, later released letters in which they openly disagreed with Majodina's weekend statement.
Dirks wrote that the caucus did not agree that Mkhwebane's impeachment should go ahead and that there were two views.
As an ANC MP I will never support a DA motion to remove the Public Protector. In fact as a matter of principle I will fight any attempt to remove the Public Protector by whoever.
— Mervyn Dirks (@DirksMervyn) March 5, 2021
He also claimed that there wasn't time during the meeting for everyone to air their views.
In her statement, Majodina said it was premature to conclude whether the voting would be for the retention or removal of the Public Protector.
Analysts said the vote would be a big test for the ANC because a report by an independent panel, which was made public this month, recommended that an inquiry should be held because there was strong evidence in favour of impeachment.
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