Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has survived a motion of no confidence in the provincial legislature, with 24 votes in favor and 54 against. The motion was tabled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) following findings by the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, that the Amapanyaza programme, an initiative championed by Lesufi, was not legally constituted.
Earlier, the DA had attempted to force a secret ballot on the motion but failed to secure enough support. The results of the vote were announced by Gauteng Speaker Morakane Mosupyoe.
“One member abstained and there is no one who absent and there is one member who didn’t vote and is the speaker so the number is fine” she said.
A motion of no confidence in Gauteng requires at least 41 votes in the 80-seat legislature to succeed. With the ANC holding a majority in the provincial legislature, Lesufi was always expected to survive the vote.
The Amapanyaza programme, launched by Lesufi, was aimed at promoting social development and community empowerment projects across Gauteng. However, the Public Protector’s report in October found its procedural and legal irregularities in the way the programme was constituted and implemented, raising concerns about compliance with provincial governance frameworks.
The DA has repeatedly called on Lesufi to account for the findings, arguing that public trust and adherence to governance standards are at stake. The ANC, meanwhile, has maintained that the Premier remains committed to delivering services and that the motion was politically motivated.
