By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
File:Mzwanele Manyi talks to members of the media and supporters, 09 January 2018, at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, where he launched African Transformation Movement a new political party. Photo Credit:
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has resubmitted its motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula,the party confirmed on Wednesday.
In an email to her, dated 7 December 2021, ATM president Vuyolwethu Zungula,argued that since Ramaphosa took the reins, “irregular expenditure in government and state-owned entities (SOEs) increased to R61.35-billion in the 2018/2019 audit period, from R50.1-billion in the previous year and SOEs continue to collapse, without anyone being held accountable for this gross behaviour”.
He also submitted that Ramaphosa misled the nation about load-shedding when he promised that it would be a thing of the past.
“The president has grossly mismanaged the economy so that there has been a loss of confidence by local and international investors; under the president’s watch there has been an increase in corruption, inequality, and unemployment.”
“The ATM acknowledges that its challenges regarding the president are heavy. The ATM stands by its complaints about the president and his conduct,” read the email.
ATM, which only has two seats in Parliament, wants the speaker to decide whether the motion should be voted on through a secret ballot or by an open vote.
This follows the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA’s) ruling last week that set aside the decision by former National Assembly speaker, Thandi Modise, to reject a request by ATM for a secret ballot on the motion.
The court found that Modise misunderstood her discretion on the secret ballot.
In a unanimous judgment of a full Bench, written by Judge Trevor Gorven, the appellate court ordered that the request should be resubmitted to the speaker and reconsidered, while awarding the ATM costs.
The SCA ordered that the request be resubmitted to the new speaker of the National Assembly,Mapisa-Nqakula, for reconsideration
ATM first tabled its motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa’s leadership in February 2020 over the sealing of his bank statements related to his 2017 campaign for the ANC presidency, the country’s loading shedding crisis, the state of the country’s state-owned enterprises, as well as SA’s high unemployment rate.
The party is hoping to have the motion of no confidence vote scheduled for late January, given that the National Assembly is expected to go into recess on 10 December and reconvene on 25 January.