SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HON BALEKA MBETE RESPONDS TO REQUEST OF VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE IN THE PRESIDENT

Parliament, Tuesday 12 January 2016 – Parliament rejects incorrect media reports that, “Mbete agrees to no confidence vote.” National Assembly Speaker, Hon Baleka Mbete acknowledged receipt of a letter in December 2015, from the DA leader in Parliament Hon Mmusi Maimane, requesting the scheduling of a debate on the Motion of No Confidence in the President of the Republic of South Africa in terms of Section 102(2) of the Constitution.

In response to the request, the Speaker has indicated that although the motion would be published in the first Order Paper of the National Assembly for 2016, the scheduling thereof, would be dependent on the Programme of Parliament and consultation with the Leader of Government Business and the Chief Whip of the Majority Party as required by the Rules of the National Assembly. This is because the busy 2016 programme of Parliament was agreed to in advance, by the Programme Committees of Parliament.

Motions of no confidence, once submitted, are normally published on the Order Paper for information for other Members of the National Assembly. These motions are scheduled for debate in the National Assembly after the Speaker has consulted with the Leader of Government Business and Chief Whip of the Majority Party. The proposed Motion of no confidence by the Leader of the Democratic Alliance is no exception.

It is therefore incorrect and misleading for the media to suggest that the Speaker has agreed to the scheduling of the motion of no confidence as proposed by the Leader of the Democratic Alliance.

Statement issued by Parliament, 12 January 2016