DA challenges Baleka Mbetes decision not

to postpone Motion of No Confidence

by John Steenhuisen MP - Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance

Date: 12 April 2017

Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement

The press statement by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, indicating
that the Motion of No Confidence in President Jacob Zuma can only be withdrawn by the
MP that sponsors it, flat out ignores our request for the motion to be postponed.

Indeed, the DA never indicated that the Motion of No Confidence will be withdrawn but
only requested that the Speaker postpone the motion due to the importance of the
pending Constitutional Court application. The rules clearly allow for it to be postponed.

The DA will therefore not withdraw the Leader of the Oppositions Motion of No
Confidence in President Zuma.

This side-stepping of our important request is precisely the condemnable conduct that
one would expect from the ANCs pro-Zuma Chairperson, also masquerading as the
Speaker of Parliament. Mbete is determined to do everything possible to protect Jacob
Zuma, and disregard the will of the people.

Rule 129(5) of the National Assembly provides as follows:

After proper consultation and once the Speaker is satisfied that the motion of no
confidence complies with the aforementioned prescribed law, rules and orders of the
House and directives or guidelines of the Rules Committee, the Speaker must ensure
that the motion of no confidence is scheduled, debated and voted on within a reasonable
period of time given the program of the Assembly.

This rule clearly gives the Speaker the power to schedule the motion and, therefore, also
the implied power to postpone and reschedule such a motion. This differs from the
scheduling of other NA business which would require the National Assembly
Programming Committee to either schedule or reschedule matters.

Business that has been scheduled, such as bills and reports, have been re-scheduled in
the past.
We have therefore written to the Speaker to again urge her to postpone the existing
motion, pending the outcome of the Constitutional Court matter, or any further directives
provided by it.

The rules provide her with this authority and she must now exercise it so that the people
of South Africa can be put first again.

Media Enquiries

John Steenhuisen MP
Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance
083 657 3864

Louw Nel
Chief of Staff to DA Chief Whip
076 537 6615