SCHEDULING OF THE MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESIDENT

21 November 2012

The Office of the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in Parliament, Dr Mathole Motshekga, reaffirms the ANC's commitment to robust, open and free multiparty debates, which are an important feature of our parliamentary participatory democracy.

Consistent with our longstanding view, which also forms part of our argument in the Western Cape High Court, we have no misgivings about debating motions in the House, including the motion of no confidence in the President - which is a matter that is provided for in the Constitution.

There is no question as to whether or not this matter has to be scheduled. However, it should be scheduled in conjunction with other important items that the National Assembly has to deal with. The parliamentary programme of 26 November to 7 December entails committee meetings, oversight visits across South Africa and international study tours by MPs. Cancelling these commitments or summoning back all MPs for a special sitting would be a place a significant administrative, logistical and financial burden to the institution.

This type of motion is also serious in nature and could have far reaching implications for Parliament, this country and our democracy, and therefore cannot be arranged hastily or impulsively. Members would also need to adequately prepare to enable them to meaningfully engage in this matter. 

In this regard, we will impress upon Parliament that this motion be scheduled for debate by the National Assembly on the week of 26 February 2013. We believe this is a reasonable timeframe for which a motion of such magnitude should be considered by Parliament.

We are fully aware that Rule 316 of the National Assembly provides for all motions and other business on the programme of Parliament to lapse at the end of the last day of the sitting of the House. As the majority party we commit to support the revival of this motion to ensure that it returns back to the House in its current form.

Chief Whip Dr Motshekga is contacting other parties in parliament regarding this position.

This position does not seek to pre-empt or interfere with the court process that is currently underway, but to correct the inaccurate view that the Majority Party is not keen on debating this motion.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, November 21 2012

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