Members of opposition parties staged a walkout in the National Assembly on Tuesday evening in defiance of a ruling that the ANC be allowed to amend a motion of no confidence in Speaker Baleka Mbete.

Shortly after a heated and rowdy debate on the motion of no confidence tabled by Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani introduced a counter motion.

Maimane and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema objected to the amended motion, but House chairman Cedric Frolick stated that according to Parliament's rules the amended motion would be allowed.

This prompted the walkout which left opposition benches empty.

Shortly after the walkout, Sizani withdrew his amendment, and asked that a vote be held on Maimane's original motion.

MPs then were allowed to vote on the motion of no confidence on the Speaker which was rejected and won by the ANC MPs as the opposition were not present to vote.