Speaker declines DA request for closed vote in no-confidence motion
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has rejected the DA’s request for an in-person ballot procedure in next week’s motion of no confidence in the cabinet.
The party wrote a letter to the speaker asking for the motion to take place in person and for the ministers to be excluded.
Mapisa-Nqakula argued that a closed vote would shield members from scrutiny.
“I am concerned that a secret voting procedure may facilitate the possibility of negative practices aimed at influencing members to vote in a particular manner, since members will be shielded from scrutiny and accountability to the people they represent for the exercise of that constitutional duty.
“I consider that our democracy will be best served by members of the Assembly who demonstrate openly that, in the event of conflict between upholding constitutional values and party loyalty, they would follow the values and dictates of the Constitution over the political party loyalty, irrespective of the consequences that could befall their political career prospects individually.”
Mapisa-Nqakula recently declined an African Transformation Movement (ATM) request for a secret ballot on the motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The party has since taken the speaker’s decision on review.
The matter will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on 28 March.
Both the motion against the cabinet and the president will take place on Wednesday.
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