'Opposition wrong to use courts'

08 October 2015 - 02:19 By Philani Nombembe

Political parties give the impression they are trying to govern South Africa with court orders, said political analyst Zamikhaya Maseti. Yesterday the Cape Town High Court dismissed a bid by Cope, the UDM and Agang SA to remove Baleka Mbete as Speaker of the National Assembly.Maseti said political parties' decisions to litigate over parliamentary issues often causes conflict between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary."Whenever these small parties have money they go to court."They need to change their game plan, they can't run to court every time they can't win legislative battles."ANC caucus spokesman Moloto Mothapo said: "We have said this case, as well as the argument that has been advanced, are frivolous, they are not in line with the law or the constitution."The parties argued that Mbete was "no longer fit and proper to hold the position of Speaker" because she had failed to act neutrally and fair.They also argued that as Mbete also holds the post of national executive council chairman, she was biased towards the ANC.The court ruled that according to the constitution the National Assembly is the sole authority with the power to remove the Speaker...

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