Confusion reigns in National Assembly as MK party flip-flops on budget vote
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
Drama played out during the adoption of the Budget in the National Assembly on Wednesday night when the MK Party supported the Appropriation Bill only to change its vote despite rejecting every departmental budget.
The party's chief whip Colleen Makhubele blamed the confusion on mistakenly casting their vote for the Ad Hoc Committee that was established to prove allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi during the marathon session.
The unexpected vote of the official opposition unfolded soon after all the 42 schedules were agreed to.
House chairperson Cedric Frolick had asked the National Assembly Secretary to read the Fifth Order, which was the next to be considered on the agenda after the schedule of vote of department.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Frolick then immediately corrected himself that it was going to be the time for Fourth Order, which was meant to agree on the Appropriation Bill after consultation with the officials.
The EFF was the first to object and called for the division, a move that led to Makhubele accusing Frolick of not recognising her hand first.
When the voting took place, the ANC voted in favour with 140 votes, followed by the support of the DA with 74 in support and then MK Party supporting with 49.
The EFF voted against with 35.
When Frolick asked Makhubele to clarify her party's vote, she said: '49 in support.'
ACDP chief whip Steven Swart suggested that there might be confusion on which item that was being dealt.
In response, Frolick said he had been explicit that they were dealing with the Fourth Order.
'I followed the procedure and the EFF was the last one to indicate and now I am with the IFP,' he said.
Voting by other parties continued with Patriotic Alliance with its chief whip Marlon Daniels saying his party 'follows the lead of MK Party with eight votes in support'.
After the voting session had closed, Makhubele stated that she had mistakenly thought that they were dealing with the Ad Hoc Committee.
'We are changing our vote. We will support the Ad Hoc committee when it comes. That was confusion,' Makhubele added.
Frolick agreed that there was confusion in terms of the MK Party's vote.
'The party has now changed the vote three times. What is your final position?' he enquired.
In response Makhubele said: 'I am just a new chief. I will make errors so relax. We are voting against this.'
DA chief whip George Michalakis said the parliamentary rules did not provide once the voting has closed for parties to change their vote.
'That will be highly irregular to allow parties to change their vote once a vote has closed,' Michalakis said.
But, Frolick blamed the confusion to the disorderly conduct that was taking place in the House.
'I called the member on more than one occasion to vote in a particular manner.'
He then announced the results that the Second Reading of the Appropriation bill was agreed to with 256 in favour and the MK Party's votes was included among the 87 that voted against.
'No abstention and the Second Reading is agreed to,' Frolick said, adding the bill was to be sent to the national Council of Provinces for concurrence.
He maintained that the even if there was rerun of the vote, it would not make a material difference on the outcome.
Frolick stood his ground when EFF leader Julius Malema maintained that he made a bad judgement because he set a wrong precedent.
'You ruled in our favour but that was not in line. You are making this process to have a problem of legitimacy and credibility. This has to be the most respected process that you don't make the mistake,' said Malema, referring to Frolick ruling when he overruled the MK Party when it was outsmarted by EFF earlier in objecting and calling for division on the schedule of all the votes.
Frolick was unmoved, saying there would no material difference to outcome of the vote.
'The majority voted in support of the Second Reading,' he said.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
4 hours ago
- The Herald
DA pushes for ad hoc committee on police to get down to business
The DA says it sees parliament's ad hoc committee that will investigate allegations of political meddling and corruption in the police service as a vital and rare opportunity to confront and root out the rot in the top levels of the service. DA spokesperson on police Ian Cameron said on Friday the committee has considered robust terms of reference to ensure full and proper investigation can take place. He said the c ommittee hopes to adopt the terms of reference by Monday. The DA had proposed and secured a number of key terms which had been included in the terms of reference, he said. These included the use of sworn testimony and obtaining documents and evidence from all relevant witnesses, including those implicated in political interference, corruption and organised crime infiltration of the police service. Other terms of reference are i nvestigating political interference in policing, including the disbandment of the political killings task team (PKTT) and the freezing of key crime intelligence vacancies, investigating allegations involving senior politicians, law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges and investigating the 121 missing dockets removed from the PKTT and examining the integrity of SAPS crime intelligence operations. 'Once adopted, the ad hoc committee must get down to business' Cameron said. Cameron said the DA would ensure the committee leaves no stone unturned. 'We will demand testimony from every relevant and involved person and documents that evidence every critical weakness in the SAPS. South Africa cannot tolerate delays when the integrity of its policing and justice systems hangs in the balance.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
12 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Bail delay for four accused of hit on DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu
This will coincide with the sitting of another pending matter which Zuma is facing, where he is alleged to have killed iNduna Qalokunye Zuma on January 23, 2023. He was released on bail of R25,000 for that matter. DA leader Francois Rodgers who attended the hearing was disappointed it was postponed. Stand-in magistrate Helene Wilkins said she had received several applications from the media to be allowed to film and photograph court proceedings. She said she would not make the determination and instead hand the matter over to the magistrate who would preside at the next court sitting. 'This will be canvassed at the next court date,' she said. The defence, including advocate Sthembiso Mdladla representing Zuma, has objected to the media requests while the state has no objections. Ndlovu was shot dead outside his home, in front of his wife, two children and a nanny. His family have since abandoned the home outside eMpophomeni. The accused were emotionless during the short proceedings, a sharp contrast to a previous appearance during which Zuma, who is related to Ndlovu, cried in the dock. When the matter was adjourned Zuma greeted several people seated in the public gallery. Outside court the prime minister of the Nxamalala tribal authority, Tallman Zuma, could not hide his disappointment about the delay over bail. He is among Zuma's fierce backers and deputy convener of the MK Party in the region. 'We have been left in limbo. Some of the affairs of the rural community have stalled because of inkhosi's absence. Though we have his subjects in the lower rung of the community structures where things are smooth, a problem comes when issues sometimes have to be escalated to inkhosi,' said Zuma.
IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Lehae allegations are a political witch hunt
Sithembiso Zungu Zungu insists the accusations lack credible evidence and are politically driven. Image: Facebook LEHAE Phase 3 — Sithembiso Zungu, newly appointed MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, has firmly rejected corruption allegations related to his tenure as Ward 12 Councillor and his association with Citydev Construction. Presenting a detailed rebuttal, Zungu insists the accusations lack credible evidence and are politically driven. Responding to claims that he received illegal payments, Zungu stated unequivocally: 'There is no credible, publicly available evidence that confirms I never received any payments from Citydev Construction during my tenure as Ward 12 Councillor in Lehae Phase 3.' He emphasised that official records, including those from the Department of Correctional Services, 'have no record of me being held at their facility in relation to the Lehae community housing project case'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ On accusations of demanding facilitation fees from contractors involved in community housing projects and school refurbishments, Zungu said: 'Why would I do that? I have consistently and strongly dismissed these claims via credible media platforms and through direct statements to journalists.' He highlighted his role as a mediator: 'My primary aim was mediation between contractors and communities, not financial gain or extortion.' He also pointed out an absence of any audit reports, financial documents, or other proof linking him to illicit payments, describing the charges as 'a witch hunt aimed at tarnishing my name and abusing media narratives for political gain'. Regarding his cooperation with law enforcement, Zungu affirmed full transparency and compliance. 'The Hawks have completed their investigation and submitted the findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision,' he noted. 'I have no judicial reprimands, contempt findings, or adverse procedural rulings against me in relation to document provision.' Addressing concerns about his recent MMC appointment in the context of these longstanding allegations and purported association with a 'Construction Mafia,' Zungu stated: 'My appointment as MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services was made by the Executive Mayor, following internal council deliberations. The Office of the Executive Mayor would be better placed to comment on this.' Providing context to his involvement with Citydev Construction, Zungu gave a nuanced account: 'In 2017, we were introduced to this private company by the then Ward Councillor of Ward 122, as they were undertaking bond housing in Lehae. I was the chairperson of the business forum at the time. Initially, I supplied materials for them and was later appointed as a social facilitator.' Zungu explained: 'We worked very well until I was elected Ward Councillor of 122 after the previous councillor passed away. I then resigned from the business forum to focus on my councillorship. Politics within the ANC then kicked in.' He concluded with a warning about internal party conflict: 'In short, all this has been a fabrication and is meant to tarnish my name from members within the ANC.' While the Hawks investigation has been handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions, no charges have been filed to date, and Zungu's legal status remains unchanged. His comprehensive denial and claims of political targeting prompt questions about the motivations behind the allegations, suggesting a wider context of factional battles within local politics. Zungu's insistence on transparency and cooperation stands in contrast to the persistent, yet unsubstantiated claims — underscoring the need for the process to run its course before drawing conclusions about his conduct. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
