The Democratic Alliance says it believes that Parliament should be dissolved and an early election called as the ANC has lost the confidence of the country.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane told a news conference in Parliament in Cape Town the party believed that voters should now have the chance to express their opinion about the conduct of the ANC in defending President Jacob Zuma who survived a vote on a motion of no confidence in him on Tuesday.
“The ANC may have won in the No Confidence motion in Parliament yesterday‚ but it has lost the confidence of the country‚” Maimane said.
“We are sure that the ANC has lost the confidence of the majority of South Africans. We say‚ bring it on! Let’s fight an election for the future of our country‚ and let’s do it now. By the time Jacob Zuma has destroyed the ANC completely‚ and the country‚ it will be too late. Let’s let the country choose a new beginning‚ now‚” he added.
As such‚ the DA had taken a decision – in terms of Section 50 of the Constitution — to move a motion in the National Assembly to dissolve Parliament and for an early general election to be held‚ he said.
“Section 50 of our Constitution states that the President must dissolve the National Assembly if the Assembly has adopted a resolution to dissolve with a supporting vote of a majority of its members‚ and three years have passed since the Assembly was elected.
“Yesterday was an historic moment for our nation‚ as it was the first time in 23 years of democracy that such a number of ANC MPs broke rank and voted with the opposition in defiance of the party line. Between 30 and 40 ANC MPs voted with a united opposition to signal a disapproval of‚ and lack of confidence in‚ the sitting President and his leadership. Jacob Zuma has brought the country‚ and his own party‚ to its knees.”
Maimane said the significance of this outcome could not be overstated. Zuma had survived only because members of parliament in the ANC voted for their own survival‚ and in support and defence of corruption‚ looting‚ and state capture‚ he charged.
“Yesterday’s vote made it clear to all South Africans that the divide in our country is not racial or political. It is between those who support and defend corruption‚ and those who are against it in all its forms. The ANC has shown yet again which side it is on.
“Opposition parties are coming together to fight the evil of corruption in the ANC and those in the ANC who voted with us yesterday are coming to the realisation day by day that their future is with us. Now is the time for us to come together to save our country.
“We believe that following yesterday’s Motion of No Confidence‚ Parliament requires a fresh mandate‚ and that mandate ought to be given by the voters through the ballot box. This motion will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow‚ 10 August 2017‚ and we will ensure it is debated and voted on as soon as practically possible‚” Maimane added.
He said it was the DA’s view that this was the most appropriate way to ensure a legitimate government is in place‚ one in which the people of South Africa had full confidence in.
In addition to this motion‚ the DA would continue with its legal action against Zuma and his group of corrupt friends.
“We will see him in court next month — on 14 & 15 September‚ where he will have to defend himself in the Supreme Court of Appeal against the 783 charges of fraud‚ corruption and racketeering he still faces.
“The DA has also filed an intervening application in the matter currently before the Constitutional Court on procedures to be followed in impeachment proceedings against the President. This case forms a part of a wider push to ensure that President Zuma‚ as well as future heads of State‚ are held to account‚” Maimane said.
Parliament should be dissolved and an early election called: DA
The Democratic Alliance says it believes that Parliament should be dissolved and an early election called as the ANC has lost the confidence of the country.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane told a news conference in Parliament in Cape Town the party believed that voters should now have the chance to express their opinion about the conduct of the ANC in defending President Jacob Zuma who survived a vote on a motion of no confidence in him on Tuesday.
“The ANC may have won in the No Confidence motion in Parliament yesterday‚ but it has lost the confidence of the country‚” Maimane said.
“We are sure that the ANC has lost the confidence of the majority of South Africans. We say‚ bring it on! Let’s fight an election for the future of our country‚ and let’s do it now. By the time Jacob Zuma has destroyed the ANC completely‚ and the country‚ it will be too late. Let’s let the country choose a new beginning‚ now‚” he added.
As such‚ the DA had taken a decision – in terms of Section 50 of the Constitution — to move a motion in the National Assembly to dissolve Parliament and for an early general election to be held‚ he said.
“Section 50 of our Constitution states that the President must dissolve the National Assembly if the Assembly has adopted a resolution to dissolve with a supporting vote of a majority of its members‚ and three years have passed since the Assembly was elected.
“Yesterday was an historic moment for our nation‚ as it was the first time in 23 years of democracy that such a number of ANC MPs broke rank and voted with the opposition in defiance of the party line. Between 30 and 40 ANC MPs voted with a united opposition to signal a disapproval of‚ and lack of confidence in‚ the sitting President and his leadership. Jacob Zuma has brought the country‚ and his own party‚ to its knees.”
Maimane said the significance of this outcome could not be overstated. Zuma had survived only because members of parliament in the ANC voted for their own survival‚ and in support and defence of corruption‚ looting‚ and state capture‚ he charged.
“Yesterday’s vote made it clear to all South Africans that the divide in our country is not racial or political. It is between those who support and defend corruption‚ and those who are against it in all its forms. The ANC has shown yet again which side it is on.
“Opposition parties are coming together to fight the evil of corruption in the ANC and those in the ANC who voted with us yesterday are coming to the realisation day by day that their future is with us. Now is the time for us to come together to save our country.
“We believe that following yesterday’s Motion of No Confidence‚ Parliament requires a fresh mandate‚ and that mandate ought to be given by the voters through the ballot box. This motion will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow‚ 10 August 2017‚ and we will ensure it is debated and voted on as soon as practically possible‚” Maimane added.
He said it was the DA’s view that this was the most appropriate way to ensure a legitimate government is in place‚ one in which the people of South Africa had full confidence in.
In addition to this motion‚ the DA would continue with its legal action against Zuma and his group of corrupt friends.
“We will see him in court next month — on 14 & 15 September‚ where he will have to defend himself in the Supreme Court of Appeal against the 783 charges of fraud‚ corruption and racketeering he still faces.
“The DA has also filed an intervening application in the matter currently before the Constitutional Court on procedures to be followed in impeachment proceedings against the President. This case forms a part of a wider push to ensure that President Zuma‚ as well as future heads of State‚ are held to account‚” Maimane said.
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