Parliament welcomes court ruling on ATM’s secret ballot application
Parliament has welcomed the decision by the Western High Court to dismiss with cost the African Transformation Movement (ATM)’s application that a no confidence-vote against President Cyril Ramaphosa should be conducted via secret ballots.
The high court ruled on Friday that Speaker Thandi Modise was correct in her decision for such a motion to be conducted via an open ballot.
The ATM wanted the motion to be done as a secret ballot, which Modise disagreed with, leading to the matter being referred to the courts.
Parliament’s spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo says the ATM's disagreement with Modise did not make her decision unlawful.
"The judgment today confirms that the Speaker's decision was based on merits, not other considerations as ATM claimed,” said Mothapo.
"She also provided the ATM with all her reasons for an open ballot and for declining their application for a secret ballot," Mothapo noted.
