Bye? Ramaphosa and cabinet to face motion of no confidence this week

It’s going to be a very busy new week for President Cyril Ramaphosa. After arriving back from his trip to Dubai, the president will have to defeat his challengers in Parliament. Ramaphosa and his cabinet will face a motion of no confidence each. Will ANC MPs fall in line?

Cyril Ramaphosa facing motion of no confidence

Ramaphosa is facing a motion of no confidence, after the African Transformation Movement, finally had its request granted. In terms of the president’s cabinet? DA leader John Steenhuisen has sponsored his own motion.

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While the ATM wants Ramaphosa specifically gone, the DA wants Ramaphosa’s cabinet removed, but not the man himself.

Both motions will be debated and voted on, on Wednesday afternoon. National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has ruled that both votes will NOT be by secret ballot.

ATM is demanding a secret ballot. The party has already gone to court in an attempt to force Mapisa-Nqakula’s hand.

The DA had also requested that its motion against the cabinet be voted on by secret ballot.

Mapisa-Nqakula was not convinced.

“I am not persuaded that there is a proper basis to conclude that any member would not be able to freely and consciously express an open vote different from their party’s preference and feel secure that they have done so in keeping with their oath of allegiance to the Constitution.”

Mapisa-Nqakula wrote in a letter to the DA

DA gives its reasons for Cabinet removal

Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, the DA is now turning its attention to Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Mthethwa is currently Minister of Sports & Arts and Culture. In a statement from DA MP Veronica Van Dyk, the party slams Mthethwa for his work across several portfolios.

With Mthethwa having previously served as Police Minister, the DA says Mthethwa must take a large part of the responsibility for the Marikana massacre.

The DA also argues that Mthethwa’s decision to declare Jacob Zuma’s homestead Nkandla a national key point, cost taxpayers millions of rand.

Last but not least, the party wants Mthathwa out over his handling of the R300m grant meant for struggling artists during the hard lockdown. Van Dyk says Mthethwa “mismanaged and misappropriated” the funds.

“South Africa cannot continue to suffer under Mthethwa’s incompetence and complete disregard for the wellbeing of ordinary citizens of South Africa. He must be removed immediately.

DA MP Veronica van Dyk