National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has survived an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) motion of no confidence after MPs voted overwhelmingly against her removal. A total of 282 members voted against the motion, while 101 supported it. Political parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) defended Didiza over her decision not to oppose a court challenge brought by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Thoko Didiza no-confidence motion centred on the Speaker’s decision not to oppose Ramaphosa’s interdict, with GNU parties arguing that the move was legally permissible.
They warned that removing a Speaker over such a decision could create a dangerous precedent. The ANC said Didiza had acted within the law and followed the applicable parliamentary prescripts.
The party described the EFF motion as both “dangerous” and “unsustainable”. ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli said Didiza was not required to personally oppose the president in the court proceedings.
Thoko Didiza No-Confidence Motion Defeated In Parliament
The Thoko Didiza no-confidence motion was rejected by a clear majority in the National Assembly. The final vote saw 282 MPs oppose the EFF’s motion, while 101 MPs voted in favour of removing the Speaker. GNU partners joined the ANC in voting against the motion.
Ntuli defended Didiza’s handling of the legal matter involving Ramaphosa. He said the Speaker’s decision was consistent with the requirements of fairness and impartiality.
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“Fairness and impartiality to not require the speaker personally to become a litigant against the president in every matter before the assembly.”
The ANC argued that Didiza’s decision did not prevent the Section 89 committee from challenging the president’s interdict. The party maintained that the committee could pursue the legal challenge without requiring the Speaker to become a litigant.
GNU Parties Defend Thoko Didiza Over Court Decision
The Thoko Didiza court decision also received support from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), with Nhlanhla Hadebe rejecting claims that the Speaker had abandoned Parliament. Hadebe said the evidence presented did not demonstrate that Didiza had interfered with the impeachment process. He also defended her conduct in relation to the Constitutional Court judgment.
“The evidence does not establish that the speaker abandoned the impeachment process, protected the president from parliamentary scrutiny, or failed to implement the constitutional court’s judgment.”
Other GNU partners, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), RISE Mzansi, Freedom Front Plus and the Good Party, also voted against the motion. Their combined support helped ensure that the EFF’s attempt to remove Didiza failed.
EFF Motion Against Speaker Thoko Didiza Fails
The EFF motion against Thoko Didiza was ultimately defeated despite 101 MPs supporting it. The 282 votes against the motion secured the Speaker’s position in the National Assembly. GNU parties maintained that the circumstances did not justify her removal.
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The debate focused on whether Didiza should have opposed Ramaphosa’s interdict herself. The ANC and its GNU partners argued that doing so was not a requirement of her role and that the Section 89 committee remained able to pursue the matter.
Didiza therefore remains Speaker of the National Assembly after MPs rejected the motion of no confidence. The outcome leaves her in the position as Parliament continues dealing with the legal and constitutional issues surrounding the president and the Section 89 process.
