Cape Town – The ANC has reportedly announced its intention to address Minister Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma’s defiant conduct following her absence from the National Assembly during the vote to oust Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
According to IOL, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that the party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and the National Disciplinary Committee will handle the matter.
Despite Mbalula’s earlier directive that only death could excuse MPs from attending the assembly vote, Dlamini-Zuma was conspicuously absent.
The vote to remove Mkhwebane saw 318 MPs in favor and 43 against.
The ANC’s Parliamentary Caucus has referred the matter to Mbalula for action.
“This and similar others are receiving attention by the SG and ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee,” the report quoted Bhengu-Motsiri as saying.
Last week, Pemmy Majodina, the party’s chief whip in Parliament, expressed frustration over Dlamini-Zuma’s absence without an apology and pledged to write to Mbalula to demand action.
“If anyone votes against the party, if we are to part ways with that person, we’re going to do just that. Every member of any party toes the party line. They are going to toe the party line today, and if they don’t, we’re going to process them accordingly,” Majodina said.
She added: “Her absence today was a shock to me. She has no apology; she has no permission to be absent. I can account for others; I know their whereabouts. I don’t know the whereabouts of Mama Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. As I usually do, I’m packaging the report to the secretary-general’s office. It’s high time that they act once and for all; it’s enough now.”
[LISTEN] ANC Chief Whip, Pemmy Majodina says if anyone in the ANC votes against the party line which is to vote in favour of the adoption of the section 194 report – recommending Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane be removed as the Public Protector – will be dealt with and the party is… pic.twitter.com/NErtOv6AI0
— Athi Mtongana (@AthiMtongana) September 11, 2023
Penny Majodina says @DlaminiZuma has already two charges pending before the ANC National Disciplinary Committee.
Majodina says NDZ’s absence from parliament today is another misconduct that will be added to the charges before the ANC National Disciplinary Committee.
Writings… pic.twitter.com/g4WNa0TOCA
— Engineer Matšhela Koko, MBL (@koko_matshela) September 11, 2023
This was not the first time Dlamini-Zuma has defied the party’s orders, as she previously voted against the ANC on another matter.
Former Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Zweli Mkhize were also absent during the vote.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
