Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 07-08-2017
National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has announced that the motion of no confidence vote in President Jacob Zuma will be by secret ballot.
Mbete made the remarks in parliament today saying her decision was “to ensure the outcome of this very important vote is credible”.
The eight motion of no confidence in Zuma was brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA), while the secret ballot was requested by the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
Mbete says her decision was “in the best interest of the country”.
“Having considered all the factors and mindful of the fact that it will not set a precedent, I therefore determine that voting in the motion of no confidence will be by secret ballot.”
Mebete says she would not recuse herself from proceeding over the motion as requested by some opposition parties, saying this had “no constitutional basis and is legally misplaced”.
“Although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific voting procedure for the removal of the President by way of a motion of no confidence, it does permit for a voting procedure which may either be by way of an open vote or secret ballot. And the making of such a decision lies exclusively with the Speaker in terms of the rules of the National Assembly.”
The motion of no-confidence debate in President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
For the motion to succeed, at least 50 of the 249 African National Congress (ANC) members of parliament (MP’s) will need to break ranks.
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