DA to pursue disciplinary action against ANC MPs  

6 April 2016

The ANC in Parliament's attempts, led by Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu, today to minimise the political magnitude of yesterday's motion to remove President Zuma from office and their unashamed defence of him was nothing more than a caucus publicly trying to assuage its own guilty conscience.

While Mthembu's claims that, 'the ANC did not use their majority to do something wrong' are debatable, it is quite clear that the ANC yesterday used its majority in Parliament to condone something that was, and not the first time. 

During the course of the Nkandla debacle we have witness a series of ANC Caucus members try bend themselves, parliamentary procedure, and even the law backwards to absolve President Zuma of accountability. As a result the party and its scruples have become so contorted, it cannot be trusted to straighten itself and comply with the simplest letter of the law.

Yesterday ANC MPs missed a prime opportunity to stand up for South Africa’s Constitution and remove the President, they instead voted to keep him in office so that they could keep their seats. Mthembu’s qualified apology today and attempts to blame Parliament’s legal advisors are a poor substitute for principle and accountability. 

The Chief Whip and his caucus must be held accountable for ignoring our Constitution and their consciences. Tomorrow the DA will initiate parliamentary disciplinary processes against ANC MPs for their deplorable role in the Nkandla saga and yesterday’s impeachment debate and vote.

Issued by John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance , 6 April 2016