African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula says the party will push for a secret ballot on Tuesday next week amid fears African National Congress (ANC) MPs will defend the party president.
Parliament is expected to debate the report of the Independent Commission on Section 89 on the sixth of this month.
The panel led by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcoba found various discrepancies in the version the President presented to the panel about what happened at his Phala Phala farm in 2020.
The commission found that Ramaphosa may have violated the constitution and his oath of office.
ATM is actively advocating for the president to be held accountable for his role in the alleged corruption that took place on his farm in Limpopo.
Zungula says they will soon meet the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nkakula, for a secret ballot.
“In the Nkandla case, the parties went to court and on the basis of the report that was there, which actually exonerated President Zuma during the Nkandla case, the Constitutional Court found that Parliament had itself breached the Constitution.”
“So what we’re going to do is we’re going to ask the Speaker to have the review done by secret ballot next week. This is the only way we will ensure that members will actually vote their conscience and that nothing will happen to members if they decide to violate their party’s instructions,” Zungula explains.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holamisa is backing the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) call for Ramaphosa to step down following the group’s damning findings.
Holamisa says there is no need for Parliament to consider the matter further.
Parliament is expected to debate the report, a process that Galamisa says is no longer necessary.
“Parliament no longer needs to inquire into this matter, given the panel’s recommendations. The balance of probabilities is sufficient, nothing more needs to be proved. So he has to pack his bag and leave tomorrow without any further hints on the matter. South Africa cannot afford to have negativity surrounding the presidency, we cannot afford to have a president in office facing these serious allegations. Therefore, the African National Congress (ANC) should withdraw its staff member,” Holamisa adds.
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