Speaker agrees to DA’s request for motion of no confidence in Zuma  

11 January 2015

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, has agreed in writing to my request for a debate on a motion of no confidence in President Zuma, following the President’s reckless decision to fire Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in December last year.

In a letter responding to my request, the Speaker confirmed that her office is in the process of consulting with the Leader of Government Business and the Chief Whip of the Majority Party to schedule the motion “within a reasonable period of time”, and confirmed that the motion will be published on the first available Order Paper in 2016.

This is a welcome move by the Speaker, and in light of the President’s comments last night, I once again appeal to the Speaker to ensure that the motion is treated with the urgency it deserves and a debate is scheduled as soon as possible. It is now absolutely imperative that Parliament is afforded the opportunity to debate a motion of no confidence in President Zuma. 

Last night President Zuma stated that South Africans and the markets overreacted when he fired Minister Nene last month, and that the effects of the decision have been exaggerated.

This blatant denialism is an insult to every South African who has felt, and will continue to feel, the damaging effects the President’s decision had on our economy. Instead of taking responsibility for his poor decision, President Zuma is shirking it. 

The initial decision to fire Minister Nene was reckless and irrational, and the reaction - both domestically and internationally – was predictable and justified. The President fired a fiscally responsible minister at a time when our economy required strong and bold leadership, showing his nonchalant approach to our economy.

President Zuma’s leadership on the economy is non-existent, and he is incapable of leading us out of the crisis of low growth and high unemployment that we face. The reality is without a strong and growing economy, jobs cannot be created for the millions of South Africans who simply cannot find work. 

It is for these reasons that Parliament ought to remove Jacob Zuma as President once and for all.

Statement issued by DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, 12 January 2016