Mapisa-Nqakula declines ATM request to postpone no-confidence motion
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has declined a request by the African Transformation Movement to postpone Wednesday’s motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The party wants the motion to be postponed pending its court application for it to be conducted via a secret ballot.
On Monday, the Western Cape High Court struck its application from the roll after it failed to prove urgency.
Mapisa-Nqakula has already declined the party’s request for a closed vote.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says the motion will go ahead on Wednesday.
“The Speaker advised the ATM that, as the power to postpone items on the agenda of the assembly resided with the National Assembly Programming Committee, she could not unilaterally accede to their request.
“The Speaker referred the ATM to Rule 90, that of anticipation, that provides, amongst others, that no member may anticipate the discussion of a matter appearing on an order paper or agreed upon by the Programme Committee for scheduling.
“In this regard, the implication of the ATM's motion is that it will remain on the order paper, thereby blocking other similar motions. The Speaker has a duty to protect the rights of other parties to move motions of no confidence in the President.”
The motion is set to be tabled on Wednesday and will be followed by a motion of no confidence, tabled by the DA, in Ramaphosa’s entire Cabinet.
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