Cape Town - DA Parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane missed the vote on his own motion of censure against President Jacob Zuma, according to the minutes of Wednesday’s contentious sitting.
The motion censured Zuma for answering questions in the House only once, and not four times a year as he is obliged to do.
Having been voted down 217 against, 78 for, with four abstentions, the published vote count on the motion also shows the DA did not muster the support of all of its 89-strong caucus.
The IFP voted against the motion, while the EFF and UDM did not participate.
However, the DA received support from one MP each from Freedom Front Plus, Cope, African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and AgangSA, who have between four and two representatives on the parliamentary benches. The abstentions came from four of the six National Freedom Party MPs who were in the House.
Wednesday’s vote came around 11pm after a debate in the wake of sharp ANC criticism that the DA’s motion had effectively broken Tuesday’s multiparty agreement to restore the dignity and function of Parliament. The agreement was brokered by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as leader of government business at the national legislature, in a two-hour meeting with leaders of the political parties represented in Parliament.
The leaders agreed to the setting up of a committee, to be co-chaired by Maimane and ANC chief whip Stone Sizani and to start work next week, to help resolve differences in the House.
In Thursday’s post-cabinet briefing, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said there was disappointment “at the recent unruly conduct of some members of the National Assembly”, which detracted from Parliament’s role to uphold the values and principles of the constitution.
“The integrity of Parliament as a democratic institution must be protected and guarded by all members,” he added.
Radebe was speaking just a few hours before a DA lunchtime protest at Parliament, where the party, also represented by its leader Helen Zille, maintained it had been correct to push the motion as it would not be co-opted into any deal.
Maimane said the DA was vocal because accountability was dying in South Africa. “Questions are asked in Parliament because the answers have real implications for the lives of ordinary South Africans,” he said.
The ANC parliamentary caucus hit back, saying the Ramaphosa deal was off.
“We will continue engaging smaller parties in our endeavour to restore orderliness in Parliament and preserve its prestige.”
As the debate on the motion of censure unfolded on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa said the DA’s decision to proceed with the censure motion was “inconsistent” with the agreement to find a political solution to restore Parliament’s image. “As the executive, we remain committed to genuine and sincere partnerships to restore the integrity, stature and effectiveness of Parliament.”
Political Bureau