Speaker is ‘consulting’ over Juju’s no-confidence request

In a surprise move late yesterday afternoon, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said she had not rejected a request from the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, to reschedule the party’s motion of no confidence in the president to today.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, issued a statement on behalf of Mbete.

He said: “In the letter to Mr Malema and the attorneys of the EFF, Ms Mbete said she was currently consulting on the request to reschedule the motion and would revert after this. The rules of the National Assembly entailed consultation with relevant structures, including the chief whip of the majority party and the leader of government business.”

The speaker had originally scheduled the motion for February 22. This was after consulting with the chief whip and the leader of government business and obtaining confirmation for the February 22 scheduling from the National Assembly programme committee.

“In her letter today, Ms Mbete said she was currently consulting on the request and would revert to Mr Malema.”

Tsenoli added: “Reports that the speaker had rejected the EFF’s request to schedule the motion of no confidence on February 13 [today] are, therefore, false.” –