EFF stops ANC from removing Speaker

File photo

File photo

Published Sep 2, 2015

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Johannesburg - The ANC in Limpopo has suffered a legal blow in its plans to remove the Speaker of the legislature, Merriam Ramadwa.

On Tuesday, the EFF, which is the official opposition in the province, successfully obtained an interim court order against the ruling party’s substantive motion to remove Ramadwa.

It was

served on the legislature on Tuesday and forced the ANC to remove the motion from the order paper at the last minute. Yesterday’s motion was introduced last week in the form of a notice of motion by ANC chief whip Falaza Mdaka to remove the Speaker.

EFF provincial chairman and MPL Mike Mathebe confirmed the court order.

“The legislature was served with the court order that forced the House to remove the item from the order paper, and it was never discussed, (during debates in the legislature).”

Mathebe described the order as a victory for the EFF.

Last week, the opposition staged a walkout after Deputy Speaker Lehlogonolo Masoga, who presided over the proceedings, turned down their request to conduct Ramadwa’s removal through a secret ballot.

Tuesday’s court order frustrated the ANC’s plans to remove Ramadwa as Speaker.

Even after it suspended her party membership and ordered her not to enter the legislature premises last month, she officially remained Speaker.

The fault lines between the ANC and its official, Ramadwa, began to show in May when she refused to resign. The ANC had wanted her to swop positions with former MP Polly Boshielo. Former ANC provincial secretary Joe Maswanganyi made way for her by agreeing to move to Cape Town.

Spokesman for the legislature Andries Lekalakala said a media briefing was due to be held on Wednesday to chart the way forward.

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The Star

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