The Speaker owes SA an apology, not more ANC spin

03 April 2016

The Speaker of Parliament's press briefing today on the Constitutional Court Nkandla judgment was a complete and utter waste of Parliament and the public's time.

Considering the scathing nature of the judgment against President Jacob Zuma and Parliament unanimously delivered by the Constitutional Court last week, Ms Mbete missed a prime opportunity to apologise to the nation and step down as Speaker of the National Assembly.

Instead, she did her best to speak around the fact that by resolving to absolve President Zuma of compliance with the remedial action in Secure in Comfort instead of facilitating its enforcement as was expected by the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, the National Assembly breached its obligations under sections 55(2) and 181(3) of the Constitution.

We agree that the judgment has provided Parliament much-needed clarity, a procedural foundation for the processing of future reports by Chapter 9 institutions, and will hopefully help restore the institution’s reputation in the process. The DA looks forward to engaging Parliament’s various parties in committee and formalising this process.

However, it is crucial that Parliament also sends a message to the President and the people of South Africa that his breach of the very Constitution he has sworn an oath to uphold and protect, will not be tolerated - and the best way to do so will be to vote with the DA in Tuesday’s Impeachment Motion.

Impeachment Motions are a crucial check and balance that the architects of our Constitution believed were necessary for the safeguarding of the highest law in the land. Ms Mbete's unfortunate suggestion today that she has "allowed" this motion - when Parliament has a Constitutional obligation to debate it - is further indication of her inflated sense of parliamentary authority, and need to step down. 

Parliament has battled biased rulings and crept from constitutional crisis to crisis during her tenure. The DA is resolute in our belief that Parliament's reputation cannot be restored under Ms Mbete's leadership and that she must be held accountable for her and Parliament’s complicity in the Nkandla matter.

Ms Mbete should resign, and we will consider tabling a further motion of no confidence in her should she not.

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, 3 April 2016