Didiza beats EFF no-confidence bid in 282–101 vote

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has survived a motion of no confidence after MPs voted decisively against the EFF’s attempt to remove her from office.

The motion, tabled by EFF leader Julius Malema in June, centred on allegations that Didiza had acted with bias while handling legal matters related to the impeachment inquiry involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The EFF accused the Speaker of failing to protect Parliament after she chose not to oppose Ramaphosa’s court application seeking to halt the impeachment proceedings.

The party argued that Didiza had failed to exercise her constitutional responsibilities independently, impartially and with integrity.

Didiza, however, maintained that she had opted to comply with the court’s ruling. The impeachment committee, led by chairperson Makhashule Gana, separately filed a notice opposing Ramaphosa’s application.

The motion was debated and voted on during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.

The EFF was joined by the MK Party, UTA, ACDP, ATM and NCC in supporting the motion.

But the bid faced opposition from the ANC, DA, BOSA, Patriotic Alliance, IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, PAC, Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah.

Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet presided over the virtual sitting and announced that MPs would vote individually when their names were called.

The vote was conducted entirely online, with ANC MPs gathered at a single venue in Cape Town to cast their votes. Only a small number of MPs were absent, including hospitalised Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

When the results were announced, 101 MPs voted in favour of the motion, while 282 voted against it.

Lotriet subsequently declared that the motion had failed, allowing Didiza to remain Speaker of the National Assembly.

Under parliamentary rules, a motion to remove the Speaker requires a majority of votes cast, provided that the required quorum is present. With 400 members in the National Assembly, at least 201 MPs are required for a quorum.

The result gives Didiza a clear parliamentary vote of confidence as the EFF’s challenge over her handling of the Ramaphosa impeachment process fails.