Cape Town – Nosive Mapisa-Nqakula remains in her position as National Assembly Speaker after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s attempt to remove her through its motion of no confidence failed.
The EFF accused Mapisa-Nqakula of abusing her power and violating the rules of the parliament when she had them removed from parliament during the State of the Nation Address.
Party leader Julius Malema said what the Speaker did was totally unacceptable, unlawful, unconstitutional, and undermines the democratic culture, mandate, and architecture of a democratic parliament.
However, on Wednesday, 234 MPs voted against the EFF’s motion of no confidence against Mapisa-Nqakula, reported The Citizen.
The report said 42 MPs supported the motion while 73 abstained from voting.
During the debate on Wednesday, ANC deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude said the EFF were the enemies of the Constitution who did not respect the rules that govern Parliament and instead violate those rules to gain political popularity.
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Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Annelie Lotriet said although she was of the view that Mapisa-Nqakula did not meet the requirements of a Speaker, she would not support the EFF’s motion, adding that the motion of no confidence could not be limited to a single incident.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) chief whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said the motion was premature as there was still an investigation by Parliament into the February 9 incident, reported IOL.
He suggested that debating the motion would be “preempting the outcome of these processes”.
African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula accused Mapisa-Nqakula of protecting the executive from accountability, while, NFP Mp Munzoor Shaik-Emam commended the Speaker for calling security police when chaos broke in the Chamber, the report said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
