DA calls no-confidence vote on its speaker
The DA is to sponsor a motion of no confidence against its own speaker in the Western Cape legislature, Masizole Mnqasela.
The party’s federal executive (Fedex) — its top decision-making body — gave the provincial leadership the go-ahead to do so after discussing the matter.
The action against Mnqasela arises from allegations of fraud or corruption over subsistence, travel and entertainment allowances he claimed.
The allegations by whistleblowers were reported to the Hawks for investigation by Western Cape premier Alan Winde.
“Apart from escalating the matter to the Hawks, the DA has also reported the matter to its federal legal commission (FLC) for urgent investigation. The party will follow its internal disciplinary processes with deliberate speed to ensure accountability, while respecting Mr Mnqasela’s right to submit his defence in this matter,” the party said.
Caucus insiders told the Sunday Times that Winde had jumped the gun and compromised the whistleblowers’ anonymity.
Some of Mnqasela’s allies in the DA were suspicious of the plan for a motion of no confidence.
“You can’t tell me that the Hawks are investigating — as they should — and the party just began a disciplinary hearing, but there is also a motion of no confidence against the same person on the same matter what is the rush?” one ally said.
Federal chair Helen Zille said there was no ulterior motive.
“On the concurrence matter, the caucus motivated a motion of no confidence in terms of its rules; the premier was compelled in law to report to the Hawks; and there appears to be a prima facie case of violating the DA’s constitution as well.
“We do not have to wait for the Hawks’ criminal investigation to be concluded before the FLC investigates alleged violations of the DA’s constitution, which is for the DA to investigate and is not a Hawks matter,” Zille said.
Some of Mnqasela’s allies complained that the Western Cape caucus was biased, because it took no action against his deputy, Beverley Schäfer, who was accused of fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounting to R158,297.86 in connection with her irregular use of an official vehicle.
Mnqasela initiated a probe into Schäfer over her use of the car, and is said to believe the barrage of actions against him now is a form of retaliation.
Asked about this, Winde referred the Sunday Times to a statement released by
Apart from escalating the matter to the Hawks, the DA has also reported the matter to its federal legal commission (FLC) for urgent investigation
the party in May announcing its call for the Hawks to investigate the speaker.
Mnqasela referred all questions about his alleged abuse of travel and entertainment allowances to his lawyers, who said: “We cannot comment on the process so far. Any allegation of corruption or the abuse of funds is defamatory and we shall pursue any person who makes such allegations in a legal forum.”
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani did not comment on the status of the investigation.