Tsenoli accepts motion of no confidence against Mapisa-Nqakula
Lechasa Tsenoli has told the DA, that he has accepted their motion of no confidence against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
The Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, has accepted the motion of no confidence in embattled Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
The DA formally tabled the motion following shocking R4.5 million graft allegations against Mapisa-Nqakula during her tenure as Defence Minister. She is facing 12 counts of corruption and money laundering.
NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA TO FACE MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE
On Tuesday, 26 March, Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the Acting Speaker had written to the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Siviwe Gwarube, advising her of his decision to accept her proposed motion as being substantively in order.
Mothapo said a motion for the removal of the Speaker from office must comply, to the satisfaction of the Deputy Speaker, with the prescripts of any relevant law or rules and orders of the House, including directives and guidelines approved by the Rules Committee.
This motion must be placed on the Order Paper, and the grounds for the proposed removal must be detailed.
“The appropriate scheduling of this motion will be announced once the consultation with the Chief Whip of the Majority Party concludes,” he said.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqukula, allegedly received bribes totalling R4.5-million in hard cash. Someone allegedly paid a cool R2-million bribe in hard cash which was delivered at her house in Bruma, east of Johannesburg, on September 6, 2018.
— Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) March 25, 2024
Who is… pic.twitter.com/wxSK9a9vQR
Following confirmation from Parliament, DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said she has written to all parties represented in Parliament, including the ANC, to request their support for this motion.
Gwarube said Mapisa-Nqakula’s refusal to resign amidst this corruption scandal left them no choice but to bring this motion.
“As MPs who uphold the values of accountability, this should not be a difficult decision. Mapisa-Nqakula is no longer suited to hold this critical position of leading the National Assembly.
“We are the institution that ought to hold the executive accountable; we cannot be found wanting to do so when the Speaker is facing corruption allegations,” she said.
WILL THE ANC VETERAN SURVIVE?
Mapisa-Nqakula faced her first motion of no confidence in 2023.
This was the first motion against the Speaker of the House since five opposition parties called for former speaker Baleka Mbete’s head in 2014.
The EFF had tabled the motion, which stemmed from the 2023 State of the Nation Address (Sona) on 9 February.
The party contended that the Speaker acted irresponsibly and unfairly. Furthermore, it alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula referred to its MPs as animals.
Because the ruling party has the majority in Parliament, Mapisa-Nqakula will likely survive the motion against her.