By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The official opposition party in Parliament, Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party has officially filed a no-confidence motion against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The motion, addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza was filed in terms of Section 102(2) of the Constitution and Rule 129 of the National Assembly. It requests an urgent special sitting of Parliament to debate and vote on the matter within two weeks.
The move, announced by the party, primarily cites Ramaphosa’s handling of issues related to former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu as the basis for their challenge.
This latest attempt to unseat the President notably coincides with Mandela Day, a date that has seen previous efforts to remove Ramaphosa from office.
MK Party Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele briefed the media in Cape Town on Tuesday.
“The MK party has today put a motion of no confidence in the president for his failures, and chief among them, failure to fire Mchunu and to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
The party, which is the official opposition in Parliament, said it believes its motion will succeed, as it is discussing backing it with what it described as progressive parties.
“We have faith in the progressive caucus, most of them have expressed that they are definitely behind this motion, and we hope that sanity will prevail over the DA, that finally they will choose what is right over the blue lights,” Makhubele added.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen says the MK Party is being opportunistic on its th motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa.
“Their leader delivered us the 9 wasted years, said Steenhuisen.
Meanwhile the next few days will be crucial in Budget process as the National Assembly votes on the Appropriation Bill on Wednesday, 23 July.
Speaking to journalists in Cape Town on Sunday, African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the ANC was engaging with various parties to try to pass the Bill. “As of now and today, we are talking to everyone.”
The Appropriation Bill sets out allocations to departments from the national Budget.
Every department’s budget needs to pass for the Appropriation Bill to pass. As the Bill needs 201 of 400 votes to pass, it will be crucial for not only every MP to be there on Wednesday but for the ANC to broker some sort of support, in case the DA doesn’t vote in favour of the Bill. (The Parliamentary Monitoring Group explains the process here.)
Mbalula said, “In GNU, every item, like the passing of the Budget, is a hurdle and the engagement will be on with political parties between now and Wednesday in terms of ensuring that we pass the Appropriation Bill.”
Mmusi Maimane, the chairperson of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations, described the process of passing the Budget as frustrating and angering. “This is the dysfunction of the GNU,” he said. “There are only two things that you’re supposed to do when you enter a coalition — elect the president and decide on the Budget.