The DA is weighing its options after the speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, declined its application to have the no-confidence vote against President Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet conducted by secret ballot.
DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone told the Sunday Times that the opposition is consulting its lawyers over what steps to take.
This comes as another opposition party, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), heads to court tomorrow to ask it to order the National Assembly to allow a secret ballot in its motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa.
The DA motion was tabled by party leader John Steenhuisen during his reply to the president's state of the nation address in February. In a first for democratic SA, the party wants all ministers and their deputies sacked, including deputy president David Mabuza.
But the party does not want Ramaphosa gone, yet.
“We are working with our legal teams and many other [South Africans] who have offered their services. True democracy must prevail and if the ANC is as united as they say, then they should welcome an open vote. Let’s ask where they will all be on voting day ... trust me,” said Mazzone.
She said the DA is looking at all options.
“People have the right to vote with their conscience and the atmosphere in parliament is so toxic [that] not a single member of the ANC will feel safe voting against their chief whip with their conscience. I think the speaker is making a mockery of this vote unless she allows people to vote with true freedom,” said Mazzone.
She was speaking to the Sunday Times on Saturday, after a statement by Mapisa-Nqakula indicating that she had declined the DA's secret-ballot request.
The statement, issued on Friday by parliament, quoted Mapisa-Nqakula's letter to Mazzone, informing her that she had declined the request.
People have the right to vote with their conscience and the atmosphere in parliament is so toxic [that] not a single member of the ANC will feel safe voting against their chief whip with their conscience.
— DA Chief Whip Natasha Mazzone
It reads: “Having considered all relevant factors and the contents of your letter I am not persuaded that there is proper basis to conclude that any member would not be able to freely and consciously express an open vote different from their party’s preference, and feel secure that they have done so in keeping with their oath of allegiance to the constitution.”
Mapisa-Nqakula said she was concerned that a secret-voting procedure may facilitate the possibility of negative practices aimed at influencing members to vote in a particular manner, since members will be shielded from scrutiny and accountability to the people they represent.
“I consider that our democracy will be best served by members of the assembly who demonstrate openly that, in the event of a conflict between upholding constitutional values and party loyalty, they would follow the values and dictates of the constitution over political party loyalty, irrespective of the consequences that could befall their political career prospects individually,” she said.
The ATM, similarly rebuffed on the secret-ballot issue, is now heading to court in a case due to be heard tomorrow, two days before it is due to be debated by the National Assembly.
The move by the ATM may leave parliament with a headache as it would have to schedule a physical sitting if the court rules in the party's favour.
Opposition parties are insisting on a secret ballot in an attempt to take advantage of the divisions in the ANC, with the DA and ATM hoping disgruntled MPs will vote with the opposition.
Steenhuisen previously said that his party wants all cabinet ministers barred from taking part in the vote of no confidence because they are conflicted in the matter. Mapisa-Nqakula rejected this, too, saying all MPs have the right to vote.
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