Cape Town - The motion of no confidence against the entire Cabinet might have failed, but the DA said it would do it all over again given the chance.
On Wednesday, Parliament debated and voted on a motion of no confidence in the Cabinet tabled by DA leader John Steenhuisen on behalf of the opposition party last month.
“We brought this motion because every single member of this ANC Cabinet is directly responsible for the dismal state of our economy and the failure to provide services, safety and dignity to our citizens,” said Steenhuisen.
“Their incompetence, indifference and corruption have brought suffering to millions of South Africans who cannot find work and who live an incredibly hard life of poverty and despair. Yet not one of these ministers is ever held accountable by the president who appointed them.”
Surprisingly, President Cyril Ramaphosa was not included in the motion. The ANC, through its overwhelming majority defeated the motion. IFP, GOOD, NFP, AIC and Al Jama-ah joined the ANC in voting against the motion while the DA, EFF, FF+, ACDP, UDM, and ATM were in favour.
EFF chief whip Veronica Mente said she wished to make it clear that the party did not believe Ramaphosa should be separated from his Cabinet.
“The DA motion should not try to portray Mr Ramaphosa as different from his Cabinet. He is their golden boy.”
Steenhuisen said he knew that the numbers were against them but they forged ahead as they swore an oath to serve the people.
“We owe it to all South Africans - and not just those who voted for the DA - to do everything we can to hold the government to account. This means using every mechanism available to us in Parliament, in provincial legislatures, in municipal councils, in court and through the media.”
Good Party secretary-general Brett Herron, defending his decision to vote against the motion, said the president had chosen his Cabinet and it must stay.
“If he keeps those who are guilty of corruption or incompetence then voters will know what to do in 2024. It is the voters, in a democracy, who hold the ultimate power and must live with the consequences of their decisions.”
Ramaphosa might face a vote of no confidence again tabled by the ATM. The party did not want to participate in its planned vote of no confidence as it wanted to first hear from the court whether will allow the vote to be voted on by secret ballot.
The Western Cape High Court struck the application from the urgent roll on Monday. ATM leader Vuyo Zungula asked that the motion be postponed until a ruling is made. National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula found that the ATM motion of no confidence had lapsed and that the party would now have to bring a new one.
Weekend Argus