By Simon Nare
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has declined the African Transformation Movement’s application to introduce a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a letter to the party, Didiza said the motion, submitted following a Constitutional Court judgment on the Phala Phala matter, could not be entertained as impeachment proceedings ordered by the apex court were already under way.
She said allowing the motion would be inconsistent with National Assembly Rule 129(3), which requires that a motion comply with relevant laws and rules and set out clear grounds on which a vote of no confidence is based.
Didiza added that she was not satisfied that the proposed motion complied with the rules and directives governing the placement of items on the Order Paper, as approved by the Rules Committee.
“In keeping with Assembly Rule 129 (3) and (4), I am declining this submission as the grounds contained in the motion are the subject matter the Assembly is already seized with as directed in the judgement of the Constitutional Court in Economic Freedom Fighters and Another v Speaker of National Assembly and others (2026) ZACC 17,” the Speaker wrote.
She said the Phala Phala matter, relating to the theft of foreign currency at Ramaphosa’s private farm, had been investigated by an independent panel, and the Constitutional Court had referred it for processing through an impeachment committee in terms of Assembly rules.
“This process is currently underway and in accordance with Rule 90, the discussion of the matter and related issues should not be anticipated, albeit introduced through another mechanism,” she said.
Since the Constitutional Court ruling, Didiza has met the Chief Whips Forum, representing all political parties in the National Assembly, to determine the composition of the impeachment committee and allocate members accordingly.
She allocated the ANC nine members, the DA five, uMkhonto weSizwe three, the EFF two, and the remaining parties one member each.
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