The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) attempt to remove Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as speaker of the National Assembly through a resolution of no confidence was unsuccessful on Wednesday because it was rejected by a number of opposition parties and the Democratic (DA) withdrew.
Each MP was compelled to orally state whether they supported the motion when their name was brought out during the manual vote. 42 participants were in favour, 234 people opposed, and 73 people abstained.
The EFF was challenging Mapisa-Nqakula’s conduct during the chaotic proceedings during State Of the Nation Address (Sona) and demanded an apology from her when fights between security officers and EFF MPs broke out.
EFF leader Julius Malema gave Mapisa-Nqakula 48 hours to publicly withdraw and apologise on behalf of the institution for the fracas between the party’s MPs and security forces at Sona.
Malema claimed Mapisa-Nqakula did not follow the procedure outlined in Joint Rule 14GA for removing MPs from the chamber, instead relying on “her emotions and biases, resulting in shameful violence against MPs.”
Furthermore, Malema stated that Mapisa-Nqakula failed to apply the Joint Rules fairly and impartially, ensuring the participation of members of all parties in a democratic manner, but instead allowed the use of violent means.
The significant win for the African National Congress (ANC) comes only two days after the EFF staged a scheduled nationwide strike during which demonstrators marched to demand President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation and an end to load shedding.