Opposition parties: Mbete must recuse herself for Zuma no confidence vote
The parties have suggested the deputy speaker preside over the debate and vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma on 8 August
PRETORIA - Opposition parties say National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete should recuse herself from presiding over the debate and vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma because she is biased.
Several parties - including the Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, African Christian Democratic Party, Congress of the People and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) - met in Pretoria on Thursday.
The National Assembly will debate and vote on the motion on 8 August.
Reading a statement on behalf of the opposition parties, the UDM’s Bantu Holomisa says they hope Mbete recuses herself.
“We note her instruction to the ANC MPs to vote in favour of the president. The Speaker is patently biased, therefore compromised, she cannot preside over the debate.”
The parties have suggested the deputy speaker preside over the debate.
They have called on South Africans to converge on Parliament on the day of the vote.
(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)