Secret ballot not compromised – Parliament

PARLIAMENT has weighed in on reports of an ANC witch-hunt for MPs who voted in favour of the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma, and said there was no way anybody could establish how a MP voted in the secret ballot.

“Parliament notes public debate regarding how certain MPs voted during the secret ballot to consider the motion of no confidence in the president on August 8,” the legislature said.

“Parliament wishes to reaffirm that all the necessary measures were put in place to ensure that the integrity of the secret ballot is not compromised, thereby making the identity of the voter impossible to trace.”

As many as 35 ANC MPs defied party instructions to support the motion, tabled by the opposition after Zuma fired Pravin Gordhan as finance minister in March.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has taken disciplinary action against senior MP Makhosi Khoza, who said before the vote that she would vote according to her conscience.

Gordhan, as well as former tourism minister Derek Hanekom and ANC MP Mondli Gungubele, did the same.

Gungubele has dismissed suggestions by the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association that they be sanctioned, saying their votes were secret.

Parliament said the only printing on the ballots used were an authentication stamp and three options against which to make a mark: “No”, “Yes” or “Abstain”.

“To further ensure maximum secrecy of the process, no gadgets were permitted in the voting booth, photojournalists with zoom-lens cameras were requested to vacate the gallery, and chamber broadcast camera controllers were ordered not to focus on voting booths,” the legislature said.

It said the ballot boxes were stored and locked away, and could only be opened by order of the National Assembly Speaker or a court of law.

Zuma survived the vote with 198 votes against 177. There were nine abstentions. – ANA