DA loses bid to have ministers excluded from Zuma debate

01 March 2016 - 18:15 By Thulani Gqirana
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Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli during the debate on the State of the Nation Address on February 17, 2015 in Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa. Opposition leaders launched bitter attacks on President Zuma as they got their first chance to reply to his State of the Nation Address which he delivered last Thursday.
Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli during the debate on the State of the Nation Address on February 17, 2015 in Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa. Opposition leaders launched bitter attacks on President Zuma as they got their first chance to reply to his State of the Nation Address which he delivered last Thursday.
Image: Gallo Images / Nardus Engelbrecht

The Democratic Alliance have lost their bid to have ministers and deputies excluded from the motion of no confidence debate against President Jacob Zuma.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen asked for Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli to make a ruling regarding their request before the debate started.

He called on Cabinet ministers to be excluded on the basis that it would be a conflict of interest for the ministers to vote against Zuma.

Tsenoli said most ministers and deputies were elected representatives and were sent to Parliament to represent their constituencies

He said he was not aware of any rule that provided for the exclusion of ministers in the debate and said he could not instruct any member to leave the house.

MPs are debating a motion of no confidence against Zuma following the change in finance ministers in December.

Source: News24

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