Secret ballot a ‘boon’ for opposition

Speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete’s decision to allow a secret ballot in today’s vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma was a massive psychological victory for opposition parties.

That is according to political analyst and University of Johannesburg Professor Tinyiko Maluleke after Mbete dropped her bombshell.

Mbete began her press briefing to boos from the media after she disallowed questions without giving reasons.

She then launched an attack on those who had called for her recusal.

“I therefore find the public pronouncements and calls that the speaker will act in a partisan manner reprehensible and unpalatable for our democracy,” Mbete said, referring to herself in the third person.

“I am elected by the [National] Assembly to perform the role of speaker and as long as that has not changed I will not recuse myself.

“Thus the call for the speaker to recuse herself from the proceedings tomorrow has no constitutional basis and is therefore legally misplaced.”

Mbete said she had taken many factors into her decision, including the June reminder by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in the Constitutional Court that she in fact did have the power to declare a vote could be held in secret.

“This decision is therefore in the best interest of the country.

“The speaker is required to guard the procedure of this house and to ensure that the outcome of this very important vote is credible.

“The speaker must do this without fear or favour.

“It is with that in mind that this decision is also about putting the resilience of our democratic institution to test.

“Having considered all the factors, and mindful of the fact that this decision is not setting a precedent, I determine that voting on the motion of no confidence in the president on August 8, 2017 will be by secret ballot.”

This decision is therefore in the best interest of the country.

Baleka Mbete Speaker of parliament