Didiza to face no-confidence motion over handling of Ramaphosa impeachment bid

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza will face a motion of no confidence after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) accused her of failing to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court application to halt his impeachment proceedings.

What the motion alleges

The motion, tabled in June by EFF leader Julius Malema, alleges that Didiza was biased in her handling of legal matters linked to the impeachment inquiry and did not protect Parliament by choosing not to oppose the president’s application for an interdict against the proceedings.

Parliamentary responses and procedure

Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet wrote to EFF chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu that a motion to remove a speaker must comply with Parliament’s rules and may not contain material beyond what is strictly necessary to make the proposed resolution intelligible.

“It is my view that the motion contains paragraphs with statements and allegations that must be considered in line with the provisions of Rule 85(2) and may therefore require substantiation or removal in the absence of sufficient evidence,”

Lotriet said she was satisfied the motion was substantively in order and complied with the rules, subject to a few procedural amendments.

Legal advice and competing actions

Didiza said she had chosen to abide by the court’s ruling. The impeachment committee, through its chairperson Makhashule Gana, filed a notice to oppose the president’s court application.

EFF chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu accused Didiza of creating a false impression that legal advice obtained by the impeachment committee justified her decision not to defend Parliament, and pointed to an interview Didiza gave to a radio station. Nolutshungu also said a legal opinion from Phosa Loots Incorporated appeared to have been obtained after Didiza had already made the decision.

“On the face of that document, it is evident that that opinion was obtained after the decision had already been made,”

Parties split on support

The MK Party has said it will support the EFF’s motion. Build One South Africa (BOSA) said it will not support the motion when it comes before Parliament.

BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons said motions of no confidence should be reserved for broader failures to fulfil constitutional responsibilities and described the EFF motion as largely political in nature.

“In this case, the motion appears largely to be political in nature. Furthermore, Speaker Didiza has complied with the Constitutional Court’s judgment by establishing the parliamentary processes required by the court,”

Solomons added that while BOSA had not agreed with every decision taken by Didiza, it did not believe the threshold for a motion of no confidence had been met.

What happens next

The motion will be considered in the National Assembly. The EFF is seeking Didiza’s removal on the basis that she did not oppose President Ramaphosa’s application to halt the impeachment proceedings.