JOBURG – The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse said it is pleased that the Constitutional Court has provided clarity to the Speaker of Assembly, Baleka Mbete, on her ability to decide to hold a vote of no confidence in secret.
This arises from today’s Concourt ruling on the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) application to have a vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma held by secret ballot in Parliament.
Wayne Duvenage, the organisation’s chairman, said he trusts the Speaker will announce that a vote of no confidence should be held in secret. “We believe that a secret ballot will provide parliamentarians with an opportunity to vote with the strength of their consciences, as opposed to the possibility of being bullied by the President if they are seen to go against him.
“We look forward to the Speaker’s announcement of a date to hold this vote so that the country can move on with dealing with the issue of removing Jacob Zuma as President of South Africa.”
The Speaker and the President are liable to pay the costs of the opposition parties who made the application to the court on the secret ballot.
On Twitter:
Speaker and the President must pay the costs…
Hahahaha#SecretBallot— Ranjeni Munusamy (@RanjeniM) June 22, 2017
Mogoeng says now that Speaker knows that she has the power, she has "latitude" to allow #secretballot but cannot order her to do so pic.twitter.com/um8pSfqPjh
— Gugulethu Mhlungu | Gogo Mpendulo (@GugsM) June 22, 2017
CJ Mogoeng stressing, again and again, that Parliament empowered and REQUIRED to ensure accountability of the executive #SecretBallot
— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) June 22, 2017
#SecretBallot seated and ready for the justices to arrive @news24 pic.twitter.com/dFjHNTG6Mi
— Matshidiso Madia (@tshidi_lee) June 22, 2017
Related articles:
Concourt reserves judgement regarding secret vote of no confidence in Zuma https://randburgsun.co.za/321861/concourt-reserves-judgement-regarding-secret-vote-no-confidence-zuma/
ConCourt: Amended Land Restitution Act now invalid https://randburgsun.co.za/297740/concourt-amended-land-restitution-act-now-invalid/