The motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa by the MK Party is still being processed for approval before it is tabled for consideration by Parliament.

This development comes hot on the heels of the party having to resubmit the motion in an effort to ensure compliance with parliamentary rules.

This emerged when MK Party chief Colleen Makhubele enquired at the meeting of the National Assembly Programme Committee on Thursday.

The motion is not included in Parliament’s programme for the term, which ends with the constituency period from September 22 until October 5.

“We submitted a motion of no confidence. We would like to know when it will be tabled and how far it is,” Makhubele said.

“I know there are amendments that were submitted. I don’t see it in the programme or anywhere in the agenda,” she said.

Masibulele Xaso, Secretary to National Assembly, confirmed that the MK Party has done a resubmission of its motion.

“We have gone through it technically. We are finalising that. The advice will be presented to the Speaker and once the Speaker has considered the matter, the party will be responded to,” Xaso said.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza also confirmed that the MK Party’s motion was being attended to.

“We did not raise it on the programme because we needed to respond to the party first after you resubmitted and then thereafter it will be duly dealt with. I hope you would understand that,” Didiza explained.

In response Makhubele said: “Thank you Speaker well noted.”

The MK party tabled the motion against Ramaphosa last month in the wake of allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Addressing the media on July 22, Makhubele said they put the motion of no confidence on Ramaphosa for his failures, chief among them, failure to fire Mchunu and to protect the most vulnerable in society.

This happened as the party had approached the Constitutional Court to revoke the appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister.

The party, which lost its challenge in the apex court, has since asked for a secret ballot when the motion is voted for.

Parliamentary leader John Hlophe said a secret ballot will ensure MPs exercise their constitutional duty freely and without fear of intimidation or reprisal.

“This is particularly important  given the sensitive nature of the motion and the potential political consequence for individual members,” he wrote to Didiza in his letter dated July 24.

Hlophe had stated that the Constitutional Court had ruled that the Speaker has the discretion to allow a secret ballot.

“A secret ballot will safeguard the integrity of the voting process and ensure that the outcome reflects the true will of the Members of Parliament,” he added.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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