The ATM wants a secret ballot for the vote on suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s impeachment report scheduled for next Monday.
In a letter to National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Monday, ATM president Vuyo Zungula listed the reasons for his party’s request.
The ATM said this included allegations of a politically predetermined outcome, the use of the “party line” method, and the potential for ANC to coerce its members to vote in favor of the removal.
The complainant against Mkhwebane was the DA, the second-largest political party in the National Assembly with 84 members.
The ANC, with 230 members, subsequently supported the motion, joined by the Freedom Front Plus (10 members).
“Between the two parties, they have 327 members, which is sufficient to constitute the required threshold of 267 votes for the removal of the public protector,” said ATM leader.
He said the ANC’s recent experience with Section 89 panel’s Phala Phala report showed that those who dared to vote with their consciences were castigated in public.
The ATM leader said they were even threatened with disciplinary action or even removed from their elected positions.
“The president of the ANC is perceived to be hostile towards the public protector due to her performance of duties in relation to the CR17 and Phala Phala investigations,” said Zungula.
“The late Tina Joemat-Pettersson, a senior member of the ANC and the Section 194 committee, recently died mysteriously after implicating two other ANC members in serious allegations of corruption, extortion, and bribery.”
Joemat-Pettersson implicated committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi and ANC chief whip Pammy Majodina.
She alleged in audio recordings and text messages to Mkhwebane’s husband, David Skosana, that a R200k bribe would ensure the committee never issues adverse findings.
“The exact involvement of the implicated persons is currently under investigation by both the Hawks and the joint ethics committee,” said Zungula.
He said the ATM requested that the speaker consider the matter with the extreme seriousness it deserves.
“If the speaker does so, a secret ballot is the only suitable voting method in this particular instance,” said Zungula.
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