Ramaphosa looks set to finish presidential term without ever facing no confidence motion
This after the African Transformation Movement (ATM) lost another court bid this week, in its four-year-long attempt to have a vote held by secret ballot.
President Cyril Ramaphosa conducted an oversight visit to rural Mkhambathini on 31 January 2023 in line with the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme. Picture: Supplied/GCIS
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa looks set to complete his presidential term without ever having faced a motion of no confidence.
This after the African Transformation Movement (ATM) lost another court bid this week, in its four-year-long attempt to have a vote held by secret ballot.
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed the ATM’s application to appeal a 2021 ruling of the Western Cape High Court, which refused to overturn the speaker’s decision on the matter.
However, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula said he doesn’t believe the efforts to hold the president accountable have been in vain.
After delivering a glowing report of the government’s achievements over the last 30 years in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, the ATM said it remains less than impressed by President Ramaphosa’s contribution.
His predecessor, Jacob Zuma faced eight votes of no confidence. The final one in 2017, was held by secret ballot.
In March 2022, Parliament scheduled the ATM no-confidence motion but Zungula withdrew it at the last minute.
It argued a secret ballot was necessary because of a politically toxic environment at the time.
“It can’t be that when Mr Zuma is president, Parliament operates in this way, but when Mr Ramaphosa is president, Parliament operates in a different way.”
In its order, the SCA said it’s dismissing the ATM’s application because there’s no reasonable prospect of success.
It also said there’s no compelling reason why an appeal should be heard.
But Zungula said he doesn’t believe the battle has been futile, because it’s exposed the inconsistencies of the system.