EFF motion to remove Didiza defeated by 282 votes

By Thapelo Molefe

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) bid to remove National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza from office has been defeated, with 282 MPs voting against the party’s motion of no confidence.

The motion, which was supported by 101 MPs, was rejected during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The vote followed a debate in which the EFF accused Didiza of failing to defend Parliament’s constitutional powers in the impeachment process involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.

EFF leader Julius Malema tabled the motion in June after Didiza chose not to oppose Ramaphosa’s application to the Western Cape High Court seeking to interdict parliamentary proceedings against him.

Malema accused Didiza of putting her ANC political affiliation ahead of her responsibilities as Speaker.

“Ms Thoko Didiza, the current Speaker, now forms part of this generation of speakers who put the president first, and the Constitution second,” Malema said.

He accused