The Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says she has taken a decision for both motions of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet to take place without a secret ballot.
She says the voting in the motions is scheduled to be held on the 30th of March.
Member of the African Transformation Movement Vuyolwethu Zungula has called for the motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa, while Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has requested for the motion of no confidence in the entire cabinet.
Mapisa-Nqakula says her decision not to have an open ballot is based on the legal opinion she received prior to making up her mind.
Freedom Front Plus Member of Parliament Corner Mulder questioned Mapisa-Nqakula in a bid to get clarity. “Speaker, I have raised my hand, I just want to make sure if you say the vote will be open it means it won’t be a secret ballot? And secondly, you are also saying the whips will pronounce on behalf of members and members will not pronounce openly themselves in terms of the way they vote?
“My understanding has always been that if we vote, the Whips will pronounce on the votes. However, if there is anyone who wants to vote differently from the position of their parties, members will free to do so.”
In the video below, President Ramaphosa responds to SCOPA’s report on use of public funds:
‘Review of decision’
Opposition parties in Parliament have rejected Mapisa-Nqakula’s decision not to have the envisaged motions of no confidence in both Ramaphosa and his cabinet conducted in secret.
Some opposition parties have even threatened to take the Speaker’s decision for a review in court if need be.
DA Deputy Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube says it does not make sense that cabinet ministers can take part in a process in which they are conflicted by virtue of their positions.
“The reality is that there can be things that may be legally sound but they cannot make sense when it comes to the issue of accountability and how we have to do our jobs. It makes no absolutely sense that the cabinet that has to essential whose futures are on the line have to vote for themselves in a motion that concerns themselves, and they have to vote for themselves through the whip that is in parliament. And makes absolutely no sense speaker for a constitutional motion of this kind that is as serious as this one. “
