Joint press statement by ACDP, AZAPO, COPE, DA, FF+, IFP, UCDP and UDM:

ANC latest backtrack - more of the same running scared

We together reject the proposal put forward by the ANC Chief Whip, Dr Mathole Motshekga, that the motion of no confidence should be debated on 26 February 2013.

This phenomenal backtracking from the ANC Chief Whip, who two weeks ago tried to block the motion from being heard at all, continues to undermine the critical section 102 (2) of the Constitution, which enables the National Assembly to remove a sitting president through a majority vote.

Both international precedent, and the serious nature of the motion of no confidence itself, provide for the matter to be debated with urgency. This is not something which can wait three months.

The real reason that the ANC Chief Whip now wants the debate only in February 2013 is because the ANC NEC has over-ruled his initial, rash, and unconstitutional position. He is doing nothing more than manipulating parliament to make sure that he reaches his same desired goal: protecting President Zuma from parliamentary scrutiny at all costs.

With 75 minutes allocated to farewell speeches alone in the programme tomorrow, Dr Motshekga's argument that there is no time to consider this matter until February 2013 rings hollow. In fact, the only reason that we have not yet debated this motion is his absolute opposition to it.

If Dr Motshekga gets his way, we will have the hugely untenable situation where the President must address a joint sitting of Parliament on the State of the Nation, while a motion of no confidence remains on the order paper against him.

Our request for a court order compelling the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to do everything in his power to schedule this debate before the end of the parliamentary term remains in force.

Statement issued by the DA, November 21 2012

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