DA submits motion to dissolve parliament

Following a failed bid to remove President Jacob Zuma from office through a motion of no confidence on Tuesday, the Democratic Alliance says it has submitted a motion calling for the National Assembly to be dissolved as provided for in Section 50(1) of the constitution.

John Steenhuisen, the party’s chief whip in parliament, said it was clear to South Africans that the governing ANC was willing to do anything to protect Zuma and keep him in power.

“The DA believes that his presidency is no longer supported by the majority of South Africans and thus, with the ANC having failed to remove him on Tuesday, South Africans need to be given the opportunity to make their voices heard at the polls,” Steenhuisen said in a statement on Thursday.

“That is why parliament must now be dissolved. This will ensure that South Africa does not have to withstand the devastating effects of Jacob Zuma’s presidency for another two years.”

Steenhuisen said the DA would push to have the motion moved above the line and debated as soon as possible, despite some misgivings from opposition parties about the dissolution of parliament and early polls.

“Such a motion requires a majority of the members of the National Assembly to support it in order to pass. It thus provides the ANC with another opportunity to do the right thing. Going to an early election is now the best way to respect the will of the people,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) said it did not support the move by the DA to have the country go to early elections.

In a statement, the party said the mandate of the current ANC-led government would come to an end in 2019, and it would instead focus on the 2019 general elections.

”The UDM does not support the Democratic Alliance sponsored motion for the dissolution of the National Assembly. We respect the DA’s right to propose motions like any other political party represented in the National Assembly.

“Of immediate importance to the UDM, is the state of readiness of the Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) for the 2019 national and provincial elections,” the UDM said.

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