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

The Democratic Alliance (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 proper legal justification, seeking to protect the President at the expense of the institution, and failing to act with the impartiality required of her office.

The DA parliamentary leader George Michalakis said the party believed removing Didiza would be “premature” and would not be the right way to strengthen parliament.

The DA’s decision to oppose the motion comes as no surprise to many, as the party has previously stated that it would not support the EFF’s attempts to remove the Speaker.

The motion is expected to fail, as the ANC and other parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) are also expected to vote against it.