Whoops! Opposition Parties Will Not Support Ramaphosa Nomination. Watch LIVE.
Despite the mood amongst ordinary South Africans being quite euphoric that Acting President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to be nominated and elected as the President of South Africa, opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced that it will not support Ramaphosa’s nomination, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) say they won’t participate in the […]
Despite the mood amongst ordinary South Africans being quite euphoric that Acting President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to be nominated and elected as the President of South Africa, opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced that it will not support Ramaphosa’s nomination, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) say they won’t participate in the election and swearing in of the new president because they want parliament dissolved.
Mmusi Maimane – Leader of the DA – delivered the following statement today on the steps of the National Assembly at Parliament, Cape Town:
“Today, Parliament will sit to elect a new President of South Africa following yesterday’s resignation of Jacob Zuma. The Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus has taken a decision to not nominate our own candidate for President, and we will not be supporting Cyril Ramaphosa’s nomination.
“Along with other opposition parties in Parliament, we took a decision to bring a Motion to dissolve Parliament in terms of section 50 of the Constitution. I submitted this Motion to the Speaker of Parliament 72 hours ago, and can be accessed here.
“The reason for this Motion is that the National Assembly no longer represents the will of the people, having failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable. The National Assembly has failed in its duties to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, and therefore must be dissolved.
“We believe that whomever is the new President requires a mandate from the public. The people of South Africa ought to choose who the new President of South Africa is.
“If Cyril Ramaphosa is certain he will be elected President of South Africa by the people, then him and his ANC will have no hesitation in supporting this Motion.
“South Africa must now go to the ballot box and elect a new President, and a new Parliament that has a mandate from the people.”
At an Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) press conference this morning, EFF Leader Julius Malema said: “At a first opportunity to lead a motion in Parliament, EFF will be calling for a dissolution of Parliament in favour of early elections. This is to allow our people to renew parliament’s mandate through general election.”
He also said “it was Pravin Gordhan working with Trevor Manuel and the crooks in SARS who came after me and took my properties, and subjected me to a huge humiliation.”
https://twitter.com/ANN7tv/status/964089042118873088
[WATCH] #EFFPresser – eNCA Reporter @lesterkk speaks to the leader of the #EFF, Julius #Malema on the resignation of Former President, Jacob #Zuma. Courtesy #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/l29udLFGzV
— eNCA (@eNCA) February 15, 2018
.@EFFSouthAfrica celebrates the announcement by Speaker Baleka Mbete that Jacob Zuma has resigned as president. #PresidentElection (@AdriaanBasson) pic.twitter.com/zMCn929qMY
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) February 15, 2018
Singing erupts as the National Assembly gets underway. #Parliament #ZumaExit @ANN7tv pic.twitter.com/mZOsYp0zv5
— Valerie Joy Robinson (@ValerieJoy_R) February 15, 2018