Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court has dismissed an urgent application to force a parliamentary debate on a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.
In his ruling on Thursday afternoon, Judge Dennis Davis said there were gaps in National Assembly rules, but found it was not for the court to dictate to Parliament.
Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko officially gave notice of the motion on behalf of opposition parties in the National Assembly on November 8.
She brought the motion on the grounds "that under his (Zuma's) leadership the justice system has been politicised and weakened; corruption has spiralled out of control; unemployment continues to increase, the economy is weakening, and the right of access to quality education has been violated".
She approached the court for an urgent application compelling National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu to schedule a debate and vote on the motion before Parliament goes into recess.
Last week, Sisulu adjourned an Assembly programming committee meeting without the debate being scheduled, on the basis that no consensus had been reached.
The other respondent in the application was ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga, who has described the motion as "frivolous and without foundation". - Sapa