National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza is set to face a motion of no confidence on Wednesday, marking the first such challenge against her since taking up the position.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has accused Didiza of failing to act impartially and in Parliament’s best interests in her handling of legal matters concerning President Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment inquiry.
The motion is the first of its kind against a parliamentary speaker in more than a decade.
EFF Challenges Didiza Over Ramaphosa Impeachment Proceedings
The EFF’s dispute with Didiza dates back to June, when she decided not to oppose a court application brought by Ramaphosa seeking to interdict the impeachment proceedings against him.
The party has alleged that Didiza was dishonest about an independent legal opinion she received and failed to act on advice that she had been given to defend the matter.
The EFF is now seeking her removal through Wednesday’s no-confidence motion.
EFF Wants Physical Sitting And Secret Ballot
Wednesday’s sitting will take place entirely virtually, despite calls from the EFF for MPs to gather in Parliament for the vote.
EFF MP Omphile Maotwe said the virtual format could disadvantage the vote, while also expressing the party’s preference for a secret ballot.
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“It’s very rare that you go against the party line. We would have loved it to be physical and even more so, a secret ballot because we believe the Speaker should really be removed.”
The EFF has been lobbying other political parties to back the motion.
Maotwe said that regardless of the outcome, the party would have made its position on Didiza clear.
Thoko Didiza No-Confidence Motion Follows Previous Speaker Challenges
The National Assembly has previously seen motions targeting speakers.
In 2014, then-Speaker Baleka Mbete survived a motion of no confidence after opposition parties accused her of shielding former President Jacob Zuma.
A decade later, in 2024, then-Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula avoided a motion brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA) when she resigned amid corruption allegations.
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Mapisa-Nqakula is now standing trial in connection with those allegations.
Didiza’s motion will therefore become the latest challenge to the leadership of the National Assembly, with MPs expected to decide on Wednesday whether she retains their confidence.
