DA ‘s vote of no confidence against Makhura fails
The DA proposed a vote of no confidence against Gauteng Premier David Makhura which took place on Tuesday. The party believed Makhura failed to exercise oversight as PPE corruption was on a rise in Gauteng.
Gauteng biggest opposition party’s no vote of no confidence against premier David Makhura failed to oust him as the leader of the province.
On Tuesday, the DA clenched their teeth for a secret ballot during a vote of no confidence against Makhura which they hoped would assist the party in ousting Makhura but the Gauteng legislature Ntombi Mekgwe speaker turned the application down.
The DA has 20 seats in the Gauteng legislature, ANC has 37 seats, EFF 11, FF+ 3, IFP 1, ACDP 1 – looking at the numbers without a coalition and at least one vote from the ANC the DA’s motion was likely to fail.
The DA initiated the vote of confidence on the basis that they believed Makhura failed to provide oversight over the Covid-19 tender process as the province was among the worst that were affected by corruption.
Following the vote, DA’s Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said the results came as no surprise that the ANC voted to keep Makhura in office.
“The outcome of today’s vote does not change our view. Premier Makhura remains unfit to govern,” he said.
“It is clear that the ANC-led government in Gauteng remains committed to cadre deployment and will do anything in their power to ensure that Premier Makhura remains in office, despite his government failing to exercise proper fiscal control and governance. ”
“R431 million was spent on decontaminating schools between June and August last year. AngloGold Ashanti hospital on the far West Rand received R500 million worth of funding in order to equip it with extra beds and facilities to assist Covid-19 patients. These wards are still incomplete and remain under construction.”
According to the ANC Chief Whip Mzi Khumalo ANC had 37 votes to defeat the DA and EFF votes of 33.
Khumalo said the DA’s motion an “ill-conceived and frivolous motion debate”.
“The DA motion sought to cast aspersions on the integrity and Premier Makhura’s fitness to hold office and eventually discredit the ANC-led Gauteng Provincial Government,” he said .
Contrary to the DA, Makhubela said they believed Makhura displayed “remarkable leadership” during the Covid-19 outbreak.
”While the motion is part of the legislative tool in the Legislature, we have noted a consistent pattern by the DA and those in cahoots with them to attempt power grabbing. The defeat of this motion mirrors the quagmire that DA is, this latest gimmick reflects the level of desperation to remain relevant in Gauteng, the DA has nothing to offer the people of Gauteng hence they now resort to anti-majoritarian behaviour. ”
Just before the voting took place Political analyst professor Tinyiko Maluleke said the attempt to kick Makhura was likely to fail as the numbers were against the DA even through a coalition.
“One is not denying there are anti-Makhura sentiments inside the ANC, especially since the PPE corruption saga. Although there are disgruntled ANC members in the Gauteng legislature I doubt they are deep enough for the ANC to take part in ousting of their premier,” he said.
“Of course there are those who were not happy with how the premier dealt with the Bandile Masuku case and some could use this opportunity to get revenge at the premier through a secret ballot. The DA is using this sense of internal disgruntlement against the ANC but I doubt it would hold water.”
During the state of the province address last week, Makhura said the PPE corruption in the province eroded public trust in the government.
“We have finalised a total of 73 forensic investigations and 66 cases were referred to law enforcement agencies for criminal investigation and civil recovery processes.
“The allegations and actual incidents of corruption and irregular procurement during Covid-19 have reversed any gains made in the past five years and have significantly eroded public trust. We must go back to the drawing board.”
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