Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, who opened the debate on the motion, led the walkout after ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani sought to table an amendment which would have seen the vote turn into one of confidence in the speaker instead.

As the DA, Economic Freedom Fighters and all other opposition parties were leaving the chamber, Sizani rose to withdraw and suggested that since there was a still a quorum -- thanks to the ANC's majority -- MPs should proceed to vote on the original motion.

Maimane said the motion of no confidence was about the office she holds in the ANC, and what that means to hold the Office of Speaker.

Veteran politician and IFP leader, Mangosuthu Buthulezi, said in other democracies the Speaker of Parliament usually resigns from their party, shedding all former loyalties.

He says even though the majority party can still appoint the Speaker, South Africa may have erred in this regard as a young parliamentary democracy.

ANC ministers rose to defend Mbete, lashing out at the opposition.

In blustering reply, sports minister Fikile Mbalula, made the following statements during speech that was continuously disrupted by MP's.

AlgoaFM