National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has survived a motion of no confidence brought against her by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The EFF accused Didiza of failing to protect Parliament by not opposing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s application to halt the work of the impeachment committee.
This followed her filing of a notice at the Western Cape High Court stating that she had chosen to abide by its judgment, much to the fury of members of the impeachment committee.
Ramaphosa had filed papers at the court seeking to have the Section 89 independent panel report reviewed, following a Constitutional Court judgment that Parliament must establish an impeachment committee to determine whether the President had violated his oath of office.
Tabling the motion, which was held virtually, EFF leader Julius Malema accused Didiza of failing to fulfil her responsibilities in defending Parliament’s oversight duties.
“When President Ramaphosa filed, the Speaker, as the head of Parliament, did not oppose that application.
“Similarly, when Ramaphosa filed an interdict application to stop the impeachment committee from doing its work pending the outcome of his opportunistic review application, the Speaker again decided not to oppose that application,” said Malema.
Malema’s sentiments were echoed by members of other political parties, including the African Transformation Movement, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, African Christian Democratic Party and United Africans Transformation, among others.
The African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, however, dismissed Malema’s allegations, saying the Speaker had not violated her oath of office and had complied with the Constitutional Court judgment.
“The record shows that the Speaker would try to keep the Assembly within the four corners of her constitutional obligations.
“Number one, comply with the court order.
“Number two, constitute the committee.
“Number three, refer the report.
“And then, of course, step back and let the committee, not the Speaker, personally carry the constitutional obligations forward.
“The ANC stands on record before the National Assembly and the people of South Africa that we are firmly opposed to this motion,” said Ntuli.
The ANC’s rejection of the motion was supported by mostly GNU partners, including the Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance, Pan Africanist Congress and FF Plus, among others.
MPs were then called individually to indicate their votes on the motion, which ultimately failed.
“Those in favour of the motion: 101.
“Those against the motion: 282.
“The motion is therefore not agreed to,” said Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Annelie Lotriet, who announced the results to MPs.
