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Parliament, Thursday, 10 March 2022 – The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has announced 30 March 2022 as the date set aside to debate and vote on the motion of no confidence against the President and the motion of no confidence against the Cabinet, excluding the President.
The two motions received from the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) would be in the form of an open ballot vote.
The Speaker in February declined the second request by the ATM for a no confidence motion in the President to be conducted by way of secret ballot. The Speaker expressed satisfaction that factors raised by the ATM did not lead her to conclude that openness and transparency should not prevail, as they are, in her view, events that did not point to a toxified and highly charged atmosphere, but rather events that can only take place if all systems are generally functioning within our constitutional democracy.
The DA's no confidence motion in the cabinet, excluding the President, did not include request for a secret ballot.
When voting during a virtual or hybrid sitting, the National Assembly Rules make provision for members to cast their vote either electronically, by voice, or by having their vote recorded by their respective whips.
The Speaker stated that political parties could make submissions to her office on her ruling regarding the voting procedure for her consideration.
The Speaker also announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa had indicated that he would submit the Zondo Commission Report to Parliament by 30 June 2022. The report will include his intentions with regards to the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
She further outlined the procedure to be followed once the report is submitted to Parliament. This includes, amongst others, the Rules Committee meeting to discuss the processing of the report and referring relevant aspects of the report to particular committees.
She said where the report deals with Parliament as a Constitutional body, depending on the issues raised, the Rules Committee or Joint Rules Committee will deal with the matters.
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula emphasised that this plan will be conclusive once the report on the Zondo Commission has been formally tabled in Parliament.
The announcements by the Speaker were made this morning at the weekly meeting of the National Assembly Programme Committee.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo – 082 370 6930
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