THE OUTCOME OF THE MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
THE OUTCOME OF THE MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the decision of the majority of National Assembly members not to vote in support of the Motion of No Confidence in the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza. While disappointed, the EFF is not surprised, as parties chose to prioritise their neoliberal coalition, the so-called Government of National Unity, over Parliament's constitutional duty to hold the Executive accountable. We note that 101 Members voted in favour of the Motion, supported by the MK Party, ACDP, ATM, NCC and UAT, while 282 voted against.
This is the same ANC that voted against establishing an impeachment committee on the Section 89 Phala Phala report, a decision later found unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. The EFF maintains Under former Speakers Baleka Mbete and Nosiviwe MapisaNqakula, Parliament was similarly complicit in shielding the Executive, over Nkandla and Phala Phala respectively. Ms Didiza has continued this tradition, failing to oppose President Ramaphosa's attempts to use the courts to halt the Section 89 process.
The debate itself exposed the calibre of some Members. The PA's Hon. Daniels abandoned the substance of the Motion for a childish, character-assassinating attack on EFF President Julius Malema, and was removed from the platform. Hon. Lekganyane, whom we once regarded highly, resorted to jargon in a transparent bid to advance his own mayoral ambitions, with contributions later withdrawn.
The EFF condemns the ANC caucus for its insistence on an online sitting, and its opposition to physical sitting in the Programme Committee on the pretext of election work. It was exposed as dishonest when the party gathered its own Members at the Woodstock, Gardens Court venue in Cape Town.
This wasted taxpayers' money on unused parliamentary facilities and produced a chaotic vote, with Members disconnected and uncertainty over who was entitled to vote, undermining any prospect of a credible secret ballot. The process was therefore far from fair.
Nevertheless, the EFF accepts the outcome, and extends its appreciation to the progressive caucus and every Member who supported the Motion. Your support will never be in vain. The EFF is not deterred. We are not guided by stomach politics or the pursuit of positions within the GNU.
The vote may have protected the Speaker today, but it has not resolved the questions raised about her conduct.
We will continue to fight for the constitutional right of a legislature that holds the accountable maximally the executive without fear or favour.
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