The motion of no-confidence against disgraced National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will go ahead after her deputy, Lechasa Tsenoli, approved the Democratic Alliance’s urgent filing.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula motion of no-confidence: Here’s what to expect
The former Defence Minister will have her day in Parliament, with her peers and opposition faced with the decision to unequivocally remove her from her position after explosive allegations of fraud culminated in an intensive investigation led by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Things went awry for the 67-year-old last week, when the Hawks raided her Pretoria property in connection with an ongoing investigation into her alleged dealings with contractor Nombasa Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019, during her tenure as Defence Minister.
According to an affidavit filed by the NPA in response to the Speaker’s urgent application to avoid an imminent arrest, Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly benefitted from cash bribes totalling R4.5 million, including a high-priced wig.
It’s alleged these ‘gifts’, which, by the way, were never listed in her declarations of interest in the observed period, afforded Ndhlovu untethered access to procurement projects with the Defence Ministry.
In a statement addressing the DA’s Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube, Tsenoli confirmed the motion was accepted “as being substantively in order, except for minor technical adjustments.”
“The draft resolution will be placed on the Order Paper under ‘Further Business’, as a Notice of Motion,” Tsenoli explained.
Before dates are finalised, Parliament’s Acting Speaker will consult with the ANC’s Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina.
In a statement, Gwarube confirmed “the motion will now be considered by the House in due course.”
“The motion will now be considered by the House in due course. The rules of the National Assembly are clear. The motion to remove a Speaker or the Deputy Speaker must be considered urgently. Considering that this Parliament remains competent until May, there is no reason why a special sitting of Parliament should not be called as early as next week to consider this important motion,” she explained.
What happens if Mapisa-Nqakula motion of no-confidence is passed
If the motion of no-confidence against Mapisa-Nqakula succeeds, it would necessitate her immediate removal from the position of Speaker.
This would trigger the need for the National Assembly to elect a new Speaker to ensure the continuity of legislative functions and uphold the parliamentary system’s integrity.
The selection of a new Speaker would occur internally within the National Assembly, where members would vote to appoint a replacement from their ranks.
Of course, this scenario only plays out if ANC MPs, who hold the majority in the National Assembly, vote in favour of the motion.
However, for the opposition, this could play well into their hands since protecting Mapisa-Nqakula from her removal would send a strong message to the public ahead of the crucial national elections in May 2024.