The week ahead: Opposition parties deny ANC Phala Phala chair

Cyril Ramaphosa is not resting on his laurels when it comes to the Phala Phala matter. He was in court last week seeking to get the section 89 panel report set aside. But his action has so far not stalled parliamentary proceedings.

Also in parliament this week: is Joburg a going concern? The auditor-general doesn’t seem so sure …

Here’s what else is on the week’s political and economic calendar.

Politics

Phala Phala impeachment committee to elect chair

The 31-member impeachment committee will meet on Monday to elect a chair. Opposition parties negotiated over the weekend to elect a chair from their ranks and deny the ANC any control of the committee.

The chart below shows the composition of the committee.

The DA, MK and EFF have 10 seats between them, more than the ANC’s nine. The chair could be chosen from among their MPs, or be one of the MPs from the 12 smaller parties.

President Cyril Ramaphosa filed an urgent application last Monday in the Western Cape High Court, asking it to review and set aside the Phala Phala report and invalidate any actions taken by the National Assembly in relation to the report. This effort to delay or dissolve the impeachment committee has not affected the work of parliament to date.

Parliamentary calendar

Monday’s meeting of the impeachment committee on the section 89 inquiry (informally known as the “Phala Phala impeachment committee”) is the highlight of the week. The committee’s first order of business will be to elect a chair.

On Tuesday the standing committee on public accounts will be briefed by the auditor-general’s office on the 2024/25 audit outcomes of the City of Joburg. The metro only released its financial results for the past financial year on Thursday, and the auditor-general stated that there is “substantial doubt” that Joburg can continue as a going concern.

Ramaphosa to host Kenyan president on state visit

On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa will host President William Samoei Ruto of the Republic of Kenya on an official state visit. Ruto will be in South Africa from Wednesday to Friday. A South Africa-Kenya business forum will be taking place concurrently in Midrand.

Economics

Absa manufacturing PMI (May 2026)

The Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) will be released on Monday morning. April’s surprise jump to 52.6 points, the highest level since October 2024, was not necessarily a return to sustained manufacturing growth. Absa noted last month that strong growth in new orders may have been a pre-emptive move against future inflation. May’s numbers could dip below 50 again.

New vehicle sales (May 2026)

New vehicle sales will also be released on Monday morning. May’s sales figures are expected to beat April’s seasonal drop, but not to return to the heady figures of March. May’s sales are expected to be about 50,000 units.

S&P Global South Africa PMI (May 2026)

S&P Global will release its Purchasing Managers’ Index for May on Wednesday morning. The index rose to 51.6 points in April, its highest level in almost four years. Some of this growth was driven by the same stock-building that is reflected in the Absa PMI, and analysts will treat May’s numbers with some caution, even if the index remains above 50 for a third consecutive month.

This article is published courtesy of The South Africa Brief, a political newsletter published on Substack which is a collaboration between Paul Berkowitz and Jonathan Moakes. It provides analysis and insight into the new, uncertain era of South African politics heralded by the 2024 general election. Including a specific focus on municipal politics, it will provide full analysis in the run-up to this year’s municipal polls. 

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