DA’s motion to dissolve flayed
OPPOSITION parties have come out against the DA’s motion to dissolve Parliament, with the South African Council of Churches also entering the fray to reject the motion.
And an analyst warned that the motion would not succeed because it would not receive support across the parties in Parliament.
The EFF, UDM, Cope and the ACDP said yesterday that they did not back the motion, which was tabled by DA chief whip John Steenhuisen in Parliament.
Analyst Somadoda Fikeni of Unisa said he doubted the motion would succeed in Parliament.
“I doubt it will be realised because the ANC is still the majority party in Parliament,” he said.
“Some opposition parties, still reeling from the local government elections and with loans to pay, would not have the appetite for the elections,” Fikeni predicted.
“And other parties would not want to be seen to be shortchanging government.”
Fikeni warned that the DA was trying too hard – and everything – to achieve one goal, and this would not work.
The EFF said it rejected the DA’s motion and described the party as being disingenuous.
The DA is in coalition with the EFF in the City of Joburg and Tshwane.
“If the DA truly wants Parliament to be dissolved, all they need to do is to resign all their members, as well as their party from Parliament in line with section 46 (1) of the constitution, which states that the ‘National Assembly consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members.’
“Once the DA, which has 89 members, resigns, Parliament would not meet the constitutional requirements as per section 46 and thus would dissolve,” said EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said his party would not support the DA motion. He said of immediate importance was that the Independent Electoral Commission would not be ready for the elections.
Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota said they also did not support the motion by the DA to dissolve Parliament. He said they were not consulted by the party.
He said the motion would not succeed if it was not supported by other parties.
Kenneth Meshoe said his African Christian Democratic Party did not support the DA motion and had not been consulted by the DA.
“We don’t support the motion. What the DA should have done was to communicate with other parties and give reasons. They cannot succeed on their own,” said Meshoe.
The SACC said it did not support the move by the DA to dissolve Parliament and hold elections. It said multiple views were needed in a democratic state like South Africa, and divergent views must not be suppressed.
Parliament’s spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, confirmed that a motion had been received. “The proposed motion was received from the DA, and it will be subjected to normal parliamentary processes in line with the rules,” said Mothapo.