South Africa
ATM goes to court over open ballot vote─── 08:48 Thu, 22 Dec 2022
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is challenging Parliament’s decision not to adopt the Phala Phala report.
Parliament voted on the Phala Phala via a roll call procedure following National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s decision to deny the ATM’s request to allow a secret ballot vote.
The Speaker rejected the party's request for a secret ballot twice.
Party leader Vuyo Zungula says that speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngaqula's interpretation of the rules has previously been disproven by the courts. He has since approached the Western Cape with an urgent application seeking to have Mapisa-Nqakula’s decision reviewed and declared invalid.
Zungula has also asked the High Court to set aside Parliament’s voting outcome of 13 December.
The ATM leader argued in the party court papers that the panel’s report was not reviewable because such reports were merely just recommendations, adding that the president’s application did not engage the exclusive jurisdiction of the ConCourt.
