Off the wire
• German stocks lose 0.5 pct Tuesday  • Tanzania to strengthen forest conservation  • JSE closes firmer on Tuesday  • Fresh fruit may reduce risk of diabetes: Study  • U.S. stocks decline after Fed chair's speech  • Kenya's Biwott pulls out of London marathon due to injury  • Portuguese sees 41.5 pct of salaries taxed in 2016  • Kenya shilling climbs up on rise in dollar inflows  • Lithuania holds statutory officers drill on hybrid warfare threats  • French shares drop 0.11 pct  
You are here: 　 Home

S. African opposition party allowed access to argue application for secret ballot

Xinhua, April 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) on Tuesday granted the United Democratic Movement (UDM) access to argue its application for a secret ballot when a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma is conducted.

Under a court ruling, other involving parties can file opposing papers until April 21.

Following the court order, several opposition parties have called for the postponement of a debate on the no-confidence motion, originally set for April 18.

The UDM said a new date should be set for April 25 so as to allow the respondents time to file their papers.

A letter to this effect has been sent to Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete, the UDM said.

Mbete has not responded to the request yet.

The UDM approached the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) last week, asking for an order to have voting on the motion of no confidence conducted through a secret ballot.

Earlier on Tuesday, Parliament rejected allegations that it intends to oppose the UDM's application for a secret ballot.

Parliament Speaker Mbete holds no position on the matter with regard to whether motions of this nature ought to be conducted by way of a secret vote, Parliament said in a statement.

But Parliament also stated that the Constitution, which outlines the procedure for motions of no confidence, makes no provision for voting to be conducted through a secret ballot.

Similarly, the rules of the National Assembly do not provide for secret voting, Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) submitted the motion in the hope of toppling Zuma.

Zuma has been criticized for reshuffling the cabinet on March 31, sacking or replacing 20 ministers and deputy ministers, notably Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, a move that has prompted international rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch to downgrade SA's credit rating to junk status.

The DA has also written to Mbete to request a postponement of the no-confidence motion until such a time as the ConCourt decides on whether the vote will be done by secret ballot.

Opposition parties believe that a secret ballot would allow MPs of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to vote in favour of the motion.

The ANC has rejected calls by opposition parties for a secret ballot.

The ANC says its MPs must vote according to the party line.

Some ANC MPs reportedly voiced fear that they would be disciplined or removed if they vote in support of the motion.

For a vote of no confidence motion to be successful, it requires 201 of the 400 National Assembly MPs to vote in favour.

If the motion is successful, then the president, his deputy, cabinet ministers and all their deputies must resign as provided for in section 102 of the Constitution.

In 2016, Zuma survived two no confidence motions in Parliament which is dominated by ANC MPs. Endit