Western Cape speaker Masizole Mnqasela accuses DA of ‘witch hunt’

WESTERN Cape Legislature Speaker Masizole Mnqasela, who now faces a motion of no confidence, says the “witch hunt“against him has been spurred by his refusal to step down from his position, defying the DA’s request.

Mnqasela was notified last week about the attempt to remove him from office.

The programming committee is expected to sit on Tuesday and the matter is expected to be debated on Thursday.

Caucus leader Alan Winde said: “In accordance with section 20(4) of the Constitution of the Western Cape 1997 a motion expressing that the House has lost confidence in the Speaker of the House was submitted on November 25, 2022.

“The motion is submitted in light of serious allegations of misconduct against the Speaker which are material to the Code of Ethics for Members of the Executive Authority and the Speaker’s functions. The motion will be set for debate and a vote in the House.”

Mnqasela, a senior DA member, was suspended from all party activities in May following allegations of fraud and corruption. This relates to subsistence, travel and entertainment allowance claims he had made.

Yesterday, Mnqasela held a media briefing where he refuted all allegations, claiming they were an attempt to destroy his character and demonise him.

“I dismiss all allegations as baseless, malicious and a political witch hunt.

“The DA charged me and I have been sitting in the Federal Legal Commission (FLC) disciplinary hearing since October.

“While I was in the disciplinary hearing on Friday with the FLC, I was told about another motion that seeks to remove me as the Speaker based on a matter that I’m still appearing for,” said Mnqasela.

This was strange, he said, as the legislature itself had not yet dealt with the issues and there was no complaint before the House against him as the Speaker.