‘Mbete can’t hide behind secret ballot power veil’ Ramaphosa

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his belief that Baleka Mbete will come to a well thought out decision in terms of the secret ballot use. Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that she does have the power to utilise a secret ballot in parliament.

Ramaphosa spoke to EWN on Monday, he gave his full support for the Constitutional Court’s ruling.

“She also can’t hide behind the veil of saying ‘I don’t have the power’. So it’s good when we clarify things I guess in our country so that an independent institution like the Constitutional Court clarifies it and decides it for us.

“After all, that’s what they are there for, they are the final arbiter.”

Before last Thursday’s ruling, Mbete had claimed that the Constitution and the parliamentary rules do not give her the power to make use of a secret ballot.

The DA has written to Mbete to set a date for the motion of no confidence, the party says they are expecting a response within the next 24 hours. The opposition believes that parliament should schedule the no-confidence debate as a matter of urgency. DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen also spoke to EWN. He says the ratings downgrades and unemployment levels are proof that Zuma and his executive have failed.

“It’s important that we have this debate so that Parliament expresses itself over the action of Parliament and the Guptas, particularly after the emails.”

The main question now though, will Mbete allow a secret ballot to be used when the motion does finally take place. It is important to remember that the Court ruled that she “can” not that she “must”.  Opposition parties have insinuated that they will challenge Mbete if she decides to still not make use of a secret ballot.

The ANC’s stance on all this? They say they will defeat the motion, secret ballot or not.