Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Image: Dirco.
Phala Phala: Mapisa-Nqakula stands by no secret ballot MP vote
Parliamentary speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqwakula said she declined requests to reconsider her decision on the matter
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Image: Dirco.
Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqwakula is not backing down on her decision to not allow a vote in secret, when deciding on adopting the Section 89 panel’s report on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala dealings.
On Monday, 12 December 2022, Mapisa-Nqakula said she had declined requests by some political parties in Parliament who had asked her to reconsider her decision.
Ramaphosa has come under fire after the panel found that he had a case to answer in the theft of millions of rands from his Limpopo farm in early 2020. The findings led to calls, including from his detractors in the African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties, to step down. Ramaphosa then considered resigning, but was persuaded by his allies to stay at the helm.
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PARLIAMENT TO MEET OVER PHALA PHALA REPORT
MPs are expected to meet over the Phala Phala report and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s future on Tuesday, 13 December 2022, to decide on a way forward, after proceedings were postponed last week. While other parties had asked Mapisa-Nqakula to reconsider her stance, the ANC in Parliament requested that she stick to her stance.
“The Speaker, using her powers as enjoined by the NA rules, has a right to exercise her discretion in determining the voting method to be employed when deciding on questions before the House – where no voting method is prescribed in the rules of the National Assembly,” Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said.
BACKGROUND: Back in June, Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa, claiming that he concealed the theft of millions that had been kept on his farm in Phala Phala, Limpopo two years ago. He also alleges that the suspects were kidnapped and interrogated, before being offered money for their silence. Ramaphosa has admitted there was a robbery on his property, but denies being criminally liable and says the monies stolen were proceeds from the sale of cattle on his farm.
