Johnathan Paoli
ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile said the ruling party does not need a secret ballot when voting on the Section 194 Committee report next week.
The vote pertains to whether suspended Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane should be removed from office or not.
Mashatile was engaging journalists during a question and answer session at an event organised by the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association (PGA) in Cape Town on Thursday, on his role as Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
Confirming his refusal to support calls for a secret ballot he said following the caucus meeting led by the Chief Whip, a decision was made and followed by all members, thus making a secret vote unnecessary since everyone is already headed in a unanimous direction.
The Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula recently turned down a request by the ATM and UDM for a secret ballot voting on the Mkhwebane impeachment matter.
Mapisa-Nqakula said that among the reasons for her decision, she remained concerned over the possibility that a closed voting procedure could deprive citizens who hold a significant public interest in the matter, from identifying their representatives’ positions and holding them accountable.
She considered the allegations of a charged or toxic atmosphere in Parliament to be unfounded and the voting would proceed as planned on Monday next week, she said.
Mashatile also welcomed the planned conclusion of Lifestyle Audits, which the President spoke about earlier this week and said he was ready and could not wait to subject himself to the audit, claiming to have signed forms relating to this since his first day in office, just over six months ago.
“We need to be transparent about where we live, how much money we earn and if you have 10 cars, how do you afford them. All that is going to be done and I welcome it. I was waiting for it. It is taking too long,” Mashatile said.
He further maintained what the President had previously described as the reason for the audit delays, and said that the presidency and its members are awaiting the imminent appointment of another agency to alleviate the situation.
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