CAPE TOWN - President Jacob Zuma faces his 8th motion of no confidence in the National Assembly on Tuesday by secret ballot. This is how the unprecedented move will unfold in parliament ;
1. Preparation for voting
2. After the debate on a motion of no confidence, business will be suspended in order to allow for preparation of the NA Chamber for a secret ballot vote.
3. Ballot papers and boxes
4. The question to be voted upon will be printed on the ballot paper, with the following options: YES, NO or ABSTAIN.
5. There will be two ballot boxes and four voting booths, of which one will be wheelchair accessible.
6. The Speaker will direct that the empty boxes be shown to Members and, thereafter, sealed with cable ties.
Process in the chamber
7. A control sheet will be prepared beforehand with Members’ names.
8. Members will be called in alphabetic order to collect ballot papers from the voting table.
9. Each ballot paper issued will be stamped before being given to a Member.
10. Names of Members issued with ballot papers will be crossed out on the control sheet.
11. Members will proceed to one of the four booths and will vote by making a clear mark or cross alongside the YES, NO or ABSTAIN option.
12. Each Member present must vote and may only vote once.
13. Once all Members present have voted, the Speaker will direct that the ballot boxes be closed and sealed.
14. The opening slit on the lid of the ballot box (for insertion of ballot papers) will also be sealed after the ballots are cast.
15. The Speaker will request each party to designate one Whip or representative to witness the counting process.
16. Business will be suspended for counting.
Counting room
17. A counting room will be set aside and monitored by the Serjeant-at-arms and the Parliamentary Protection Services.
18. Counting of the ballot papers will take place under the supervision of the Speaker and in the presence of the Whips or party representatives.
19. All ballot boxes will be opened in the presence of the Speaker, Whips or party representatives.
20. Votes will be sorted, counted and audited in the presence of the Speaker, Whips or party representatives.
21. The Secretary to the National Assembly will sign-off the result before handing it over to the Speaker.
22. No one is to disclose the results, in any way whatsoever, before the Speaker announces the results in the Assembly.
23. No one may use any electronic devices in the counting room.
Invalid ballot papers
A ballot paper is invalid –
24. If it is not stamped
25. If it is unmarked or
26. If a Member has signed his or her name, or made more than one mark in recording his or her vote.
Announcement of results
27. Bells will be rung to alert members to the resumption of business.
28. Once business resumes, the Speaker will announce the results in the NA Chamber.
Storage of voting results
29. The ballot papers will be stored in archive boxes, which will be sealed with cable ties and wax and stored in a safe.
30. The archive boxes may only be opened by order of the Speaker or a court of law.
31. Unforeseen procedural matters
32. The Speaker may permit a discussion of the question of procedure and may limit participation in, and the duration of, the discussion in such manner as he or she deems fit.