DA explains why it will vote against EFF motion of no confidence in Thoko Didiza; SA not surprised

The DA has announced that it will vote against the EFF’s motion of no confidence in National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza because her removal would be “premature.”

The vote was scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August from 14:00.

In the motion, EFF leader Julius Malema accuses Didiza of failing to defend Parliament, citing her decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s successful court application to temporarily interdict the Phala Phala impeachment’s public hearings.

He also accuses her of misleading the public, taking a decision of “profound constitutional significance” without consulting the National Assembly, and failing to act in the best interests of the institution.

The DA believes that removing the Speaker at this stage would be premature and would not be the right way to strengthen Parliament. We have previously expressed our concerns regarding the Speaker’s handling of the impeachment process, but we do not believe that a motion of no confidence is the appropriate mechanism to address these concerns at this time.

The DA’s decision to oppose the motion is a significant blow to the EFF, which has been lobbying other opposition parties to support its bid to oust Didiza.

With both the ANC and the DA set to vote against the motion, the EFF’s bid to remove Didiza is unlikely to succeed.