Babalo Ndenze
Political Bureau
“I ACCORDINGLY declare the Honourable Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma duly elected president of the Republic of South Africa”.
With those words Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng officially confirmed Zuma as the president for a second five-year term.
But not before the DA objected to his nomination during yesterday’s first sitting of the fifth democratic Parliament. Barely five minutes into the presidential nomination process, DA federal executive chairman James Selfe rose on a point of procedure in terms of the rules which relate to the first sitting of the National Assembly, objecting to Zuma’s nomination.
“We object to the nomination of Mr Jacob Zuma. This nomination is irrational since his conduct during his previous term conflicted especially with Section 96 of the Constitution. In particular he has not acted on recommendations of at least two reports of the public protector and he appointed a National Director of Public Prosecutions who was manifestly unsuitable and his appointment was set aside by the Constitutional Court.
“I request Honourable Chief Justice that you rule that Mr Zuma is not a fit and proper person to be nominated as president,” said Selfe to loud heckles from the ANC benches.
After the sitting Selfe said section 96(1) of the Constitution “makes it clear” that members of the cabinet must act in accordance with a “code of ethics prescribed by national legislation”.
The ANC’s Naledi Pandor was quick to rise on a point of order and said it would have done Selfe well to read the constitution before bring his “frivolous” motion.
Justice Mogoeng said he was not to sure whether the DA’s objection was related to any point of procedure.
He then dismissed the point raised by Selfe.
That was not the only light-hearted moment of the day and Justice Mogoeng had also joked that “it looks like Honourable (Julius) Malema is signalling his availability” when he opened nominations for president.
Before Zuma’s election MPs had to adjourn for close to an hour while officials printed out ballot papers for the contested position of Speaker.
ANC MP Pam Tshwete had nominated Baleka Mbete to the position while the DA’s Annette Steyn nominated DA MP Nosimo Balindlela to the position forcing Justice Mogoeng to take the matter to vote. It was won by Mbete who got 260 votes with Balindlela receiving 88 votes.
Lechesa Tsenoli was appointed Mbete’s deputy.
Before confirming Zuma as president Justice Mogoeng swore in the 400 MPs.
ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and Malusi Gigaba were the first two names called to take the oath as part of the first group which included Collins Chabane, Pandor, Lindiwe Sisulu, Blade Nzimande, Bathabile Dlamini, Jeff Radebe and Zuma, who was an MP briefly before his re-election.