DA hits out at Speaker over motion of no confidence
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete of ignoring their request for the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma to be postponed.
The UDM and EFF have written to the Speaker requesting that the motion be postponed, pending the outcome of the Constitutional Court application for a secret ballot voting on the motion.
But Parliament countered by saying that withdrawals of motions may only be made by the Member of Parliament in whose name they were tabled.
"The motion of no confidence, which the Speaker scheduled for 18 April 2017 at 14h00 in the National Assembly, in line with the urgent request, is tabled under the name of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Mmusi Maimane. Therefore, in terms of the provision in the Rules, only Mr Maimane - and not the Speaker - has the power to withdraw the Motion," said Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.
The DA's Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen, says the DA never indicated that the motion of no confidence will be withdrawn, but only requested that the Speaker postpone the motion due to the importance of the pending Constitutional Court application.
Steenhuisen says the rules clearly allow for it to be postponed.
"The DA will therefore not withdraw the leader of the opposition's motion of no confidence in President Zuma," says Steenhuisen.