Address by UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa MP in the debate on the Motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the National Assembly, Parliament, September 16 2014
Honourable Deputy-Chairperson
Honourable Deputy President
Honourable Ministers and Deputy-Ministers Honourable Members
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) endorses the motion of no confidence in the current Speaker on grounds already presented in this house.
Before she was elected into office, the Speaker is on record distorting and attacking outcomes of the Public Protector's investigations on Nkandla. This distortion and attack has since been sustained by the organisation she presides over as its National Chairperson. In this regard, her objectivity on the work of the parliamentary committee considering this matter is highly questionable and may compromise the independence of this house.
Irrespective of the outcome of this process, today, surely we can all agree that there is a great and urgent need to evaluate whether parliament has been discharging its mandate over the last 20 years in accordance with the principles of inclusive participatory democracy. Where so required, make such necessary changes to give effect to a democratically managed people's parliament.
Accordingly, the UDM will write to the Ethics Committee of this house to cause the current speaker to explain her alleged involvement and role in the Goldfields saga.