EFF will not participate in the election of Speaker of Parliament

18 August 2021

The EFF Parliamentary Caucus will not participate in the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly on Thursday, the 19th of August 2021. We have taken a correct decision to not participate in rubber stamping Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa's violation of separation of powers, which is one of the most important pillars of South Africa's Constitutional Democratic order.

When he was announcing changes into the National Executive, Ramaphosa said the deployment of former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be announced in due course. What this means is that Mr. Ramaphosa single handedly removed the elected Speaker of Parliament Thandi Modise and replaced her with former minister of Defence. For a head of the executive to chop and change Speaker of Parliament as and when he wishes undermines the spirit of South Africa's constitutional democracy.

The EFF will on this basis not participate in rubber stamping factional politics and arrangements that seek to undermine South Africa's constitutional order and democracy. We will consult with our legal representatives to establish whether it is conditionally permissible for a head of state and government to hire and fire the head of another important division of the State, which is Parliament.

We have to take this extra ordinary step because it is evident now that Ramaphosa is hellbent on undermining the separation of powers. This is further demonstrated by his faction's attempt to impose Ramaphosa's personal Lawyers as Judges of the Constitutional Court. We as the EFF will not be part of undermining South Africa's democratic order and will do everything in our power to fight against Ramaphosa's emerging despotic order.

Issued by Vuyani Pambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 18 August 2021