Johannesburg - On Tuesday the National Assembly adopted a report by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko that absolved President Jacob Zuma of paying any money towards multimillion-rand upgrades at his private home in Nkandla.
One hundred and ninety-nine men and women of the ruling ANC voted Yes to accept Nhleko’s report. They voted against 92 MPs, all from the opposition, who voted No.
Just over 100 members of the 400-member National Assembly did not vote. Some, like the Economic Freedom Fighters, opted not to. Others, like members of the cabinet, could have been away on government business. Until now the vote has been reported in the media as a decision of Parliament or the National Assembly.
In the spirit of transparency and proper record-keeping, we have decided to name those who voted Yes. We do so not to judge them but to reflect their involvement in a defining moment of our democracy.
Some of the close to 200 MPs who voted in favour of Nhleko’s report include Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande and his deputy, Jeremy Cronin, Trade and Industry Minister Robert Haydn Davies and former agriculture minister in Thabo Mbeki’s office, Angela Thokozile Didiza.
Curiously, Gauteng ANC provincial chairman Paul Mashatile’s name does not appear on the list. He has previously criticised Nhleko’s remarks that more money was needed for further security upgrades at Nkandla. Deputy minister of agriculture, Bheki Cele, was also conspicuous by his absence during the vote.
Even the newly elected ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini said “yes” as well as Tourism Minister Derek André Hanekom.
And the man who has just opted out of the ANC Youth League race for presidency, Puleng Peter Mabe, threw his hat into the “yes” vote while State Security Minister Mbangiseni David Mahlobo, who on Thursday vetoed Oscar Pistorius’s early release from prison, could not resist the yes vote.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and former trade unionist Fikile Zacharia Majola, as well as former ANC chief spokesman Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu, are some of the names included in the list.
Communications Minister Azwihangwisi Faith Muthambi and Finance Minister Nhlanhla Musa Nene as well Science and Technology Minister Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor also ensured they did not miss the train. Their vote constitutes a defining moment because the office of the public protector is set up in terms of our constitution to strengthen South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Zuma and his family had benefited unduly from the upgrades to his home and that he should pay back a portion of the money spent on non-security features.
What Tuesday’s vote does is strip the Office of the Public Protector of being able to enforce rulings. However, judgment on the matter is pending on a number of different levels. It is inevitable that the courts will get involved to decide whether Nhleko’s report or that by Madonsela carries more weight.
On another level, Nkandla will be an election issue when South Africans go to the polls for next year’s local government elections.
Finally, those who voted did so along party lines. But each of them will have to judge whether their vote – yes or no – was in keeping with their own ethical standards.
Today we record the names of those who voted. But in the years to come, history will judge whether their decision – yes or no – was in the best interests of our democracy or not.
A full list of MPs who voted yes
Beverley Lynnette Abrahams (ANC)
Freddie Adams (ANC)
Patricia Emily Adams (ANC)
Vatiswa Bam-Mugwanya (ANC)
Kopeng Obed Bapela (ANC)
Joyce Vuyiswa Basson (ANC)
Simphiwe Donatus Bekwa (ANC)
Francois Beukman (ANC)
Phumzile Bhengu (ANC)
Nozabelo Ruth Bhengu (ANC)
Nkhensani Kate Bilankulu (ANC)
Bongani Thomas Bongo (ANC)
Mnyamezeli Shedrack Booi (ANC)
Mmatlala Grace Boroto (ANC)
Lynette Brown (ANC)
Rosemary Nokuzola Capa (ANC)
Ndumiso Capa (ANC)
Yunus Ismail Carrim (ANC)
Mosie Antony Cele (ANC)
Lydia Sindisiwe Chikunga (ANC)
Thapelo Dorothy Chiloane (ANC)
Fatima Ismail Chohan (ANC)
Mamonare Patricia Chueu (ANC)
Jeremy Patrick Cronin (ANC)
Robert Haydn Davies (ANC)
Angela Thokozile Didiza (ANC)
Dorries Eunice Dlakude (ANC)
Bathabile Olive Dlamini (ANC)
Zephroma Dlamini-Dubazana (ANC)
Bongekile Jabulile Dlomo (ANC)
Beauty Nomvuzo Dlulane (ANC)
Mary-Ann Lindelwa Dunjwa (ANC)
Cedric Thomas Frolick (ANC)
Joanmariae Louise Fubbs (ANC)
Dennis Dumisani Gamede (ANC)
Ndabakayise Gcwabaza (ANC)
Knowledge Malusi Gigaba (ANC)
Nomalungelo Gina (ANC)
Donald Mlindwa Gumede (ANC)
Derek Andre Hanekom (ANC)
Sango Patekile Holomisa (ANC)
John Harold Jeffery (ANC)
Mlungisi Johnson (ANC)
Mziwamadoda Kalako (ANC)
Hellen Boikhutso Kekana (ANC)
Ezekiel Kekana (ANC)
Charles Danny Kekana (ANC)
Tandiwe Elizabeth Kenye (ANC)
Lefu Peter Khoarai (ANC)
Dalton Hlamalani Khosa (ANC)
Timothy Zanoxolo Khoza (ANC)
Makhosi Busisiwe Khoza (ANC)
Nthabiseng Pauline Khunou (ANC)
Juliana Danielle Kilian (ANC)
Gerhardus Willem Koornhof (ANC)
Mmamoloko Tryphosa Kubayi (ANC)
Luwellyn Tyrone Landers (ANC)
Regina Mina Lesoma (ANC)
Dipuo Bertha Letsatsi-Duba (ANC)
Fezeka Sister Loliwe (ANC)
Zukile Luyenge (ANC)
Sahlulele Luzipo (ANC)
Xitlhangoma Mabasa (ANC)
Puleng Peter Mabe (ANC)
Bertha Peace Mabe (ANC)
Livhuhani Mabija (ANC)
Solomon Patrick Mabilo (ANC)
Andrew Frans Madella (ANC)
Celiwe Qhamkile Madlopha (ANC)
Patrick Maesela (ANC)
Mapule Veronica Mafolo (ANC)
Nosilivere Winifred Magadla |(ANC)
Dikeledi Phillistus Magadzi (ANC)
Gratitude Magwanishe (ANC)
Tandi Mahambehlala (ANC)
Amos Fish Mahlalela (ANC)
Jabulani Lukas Mahlangu (ANC)
Dikeledi Gladys Mahlangu (ANC)
Mbangiseni David Mahlobo (ANC)
Moloko Stanford Maila (ANC)
Fikile Zacharia Majola (ANC)
Lusizo Makhubela-Mashele (ANC)
Zondi Silence Makhubele (ANC)
Thomas Makondo (ANC)
Sampson Phathakge Makwetla (ANC)
Hope Helene Malgas (ANC),
Johanna Mmule Maluleke (ANC)
B J Maluleke (ANC)
Duduzile Promise Manana (ANC)
Millicent Manana (ANC)
Zwelivelile Mandela (ANC)
Emmanuel Maphatsoe (ANC)
Mohlopi Phillemon Mapulane (ANC)
Moses Siphosezwe Masango (ANC)
Elizabeth Masehela (ANC)
Lindiwe Michelle Maseko (ANC)
Kwati Mashego-Dlamini (ANC)
Buoang Lemias Mashile (ANC)
Nkosiyakhe Amos Masondo (ANC)
Madala Backson Masuku (ANC)
Tshililo Michael Masutha (ANC)
Mkhacani Joseph Maswanganyi (ANC)
Cassel Charlie Mathale (ANC)
Dudu Hellen Mathebe (ANC)
Motswaledi Hezekiel Matlala (ANC)
Mandisa Octovia Matshoba (ANC)
Cathrine Matsimbi (ANC)
Risimati Thompson Mavunda (ANC)
Comely Maxegwana (ANC)
Fikile April Mbalula (ANC)
Sibongile Mchunu (ANC)
Mzameni Richard Mdakane (ANC)
Thandi Cecilia Memela (ANC)
Lindiwe Ntombikayise Mjobo (ANC)
Bongani Michael Mkongi (ANC)
Humphrey Mmemezi (ANC)
Martha Phindile Mmola (ANC)
Samuel Gaaesi Mmusi (ANC)
Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe (ANC)
Pumzile Justice Mnguni (ANC)
Derick Mnguni (ANC)
Velhelmina Pulani Mogotsi (ANC)
Nthibane Rebecca Mokoto (ANC)
Maapi Angelina Molebatsi (ANC)
Bomo Edna Edith Molewa (ANC)
Masefele Rosalia Morutoa (ANC)
Itumeleng Mosala (ANC)
Madipoane Refiloe Mothapo (ANC)
Malusi Stanley Motimele (ANC)
Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi (ANC)
Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu (ANC)
Nokukhanya Mthembu (ANC)
Emmanuel Mthethwa (ANC)
Abram Molefe Mudau (ANC)
Azwihangwisi Faith Muthambi (ANC)
Mamagase Elleck Nchabeleng (ANC)
Claudia Nonhlanhla Ndaba (ANC)
Nokuzola Ndongeni (ANC)
Andries Carl Nel (ANC)
Nhlanhla Musa Nene (ANC)
Bonisile Alfred Nesi (ANC)
Beatrice Thembekile Ngcobo (ANC)
Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila (ANC)
Mogotle Friddah Nkadimeng (ANC)
Girly Namhla Nobanda (ANC)
Nomathemba November (ANC)
Madala Louis David Ntombela (ANC)
Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi (ANC)
Raesibe Eunice Nyalungu (ANC)
Archibold Jomo Nyambi (ANC)
Bonginkosi Nzimande (ANC)
Mildred Nelisiwe Oliphant (ANC)
Gaolatlhe Godfrey Oliphant (ANC)
Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor (ANC)
Ebrahim Patel (ANC)
Elizabeth Dipuo Peters (ANC)
Mathume Joseph Phaahla (ANC)
Yvonne Nkwenkwezi Phosa (ANC)
Imamile Aubin Pikinini (ANC)
Makgathatso Pilane-Majake (ANC)
Bhekizizwe Abram Radebe (ANC)
Jeffrey Thamsanqa Radebe (ANC
Goodwill Sbusiso Radebe (ANC)
Strike Michael Ralegoma (ANC)
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC)
Leonard Ramatlakane (ANC)
Tete Ramalie Ramokhoase (ANC)
Daphne Zukiswa Rantho (ANC)
Deborah Dineo Raphuti (ANC)
Maureen Angela Scheepers (ANC)
Machwene Rosina Semenya (ANC)
Cornelia Carol September (ANC)
Susan Shabangu (ANC)
Sheila Shope-Sithole (ANC)
Mtikeni Patrick Sibande (ANC)
Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu (ANC)
Elvis Kholwana Siwela (ANC)
Phumelele Stone Sizani (ANC)
James Jim Skosana (ANC)
Mcebisi Skwatsha (ANC)
Vincent George Smith (ANC)
Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu (ANC)
Mohamed Enver Surty (ANC)
Barbara Thomson (ANC)
Sello Albert Tleane (ANC)
Thandi Vivian Tobias (ANC)
Xoliswa SandraTom (ANC)
Tshoganetso Tongwane (ANC)
Grace Kekulu Tseke (ANC)
Rembuluwani Moses Tseli (ANC)
Sibongile Pearm Tsoleli (ANC)
Dikeledi Rebecca Tsotetsi (ANC)
A Tuck (ANC)
Nicolaas Koornhof (ANC)
Sharome Renay Van Schalkwyk (ANC)
Adrian John Williams (ANC)
Sheilla Tembalam Xego-Sovita (ANC)
Lumka Elizabeth Yengeni (ANC)
Senzeni Zokwana (ANC)
Sunday Independent