Opposition united in calls for Mbete to recuse herself from impeachment debate
It's been a tumultuous start to the debate in Parliament, on a motion to impeach president Jacob Zuma.
The EFF's Floyd Shivambu began with a request for Speaker Baleka Mbete to recuse herself.
One by one, leaders of other opposition parties rose in support of the EFF's call.
The DA's John Steenhuisen noted that while nothing in the Constitution or the rules requires Mbete recuse herself, she should step down.
"You are therefore, if I may use the term, party to the crime that took place. I would ask you, Madam Speaker, in the interests of restoring the credibility of this Parliament, that you make the decision to invoke Rule 15 and ask the Deputy Speaker to preside over this debate today," Steenhuisen said.
The IFP's Narend Singh echoed Steenhuisen's sentiments.
"And whilst we are not demanding, we are making a humble request that in the interests of fairness, that the Deputy Speaker presides over the sitting," Singh said.
Cope's Mosiuoa Lekota reminded Mbete that the Legislature was found to have failed in its duty to hold the Executive to account.
"You, Madam Speaker, and the Chair of the [National] Council of Provinces, you lead the Legislature in carrying out the responsibilities of monitoring the Executive. The court has found that you have failed to lead us in that direction."
"But the worst thing is that you were part of the respondents in the case before the Concourt. You cannot avoid the direct manner in which it attaches to yourself, " Lekota said.
ANC MP and Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula called for the matter to go to a vote but the EFF's Juluis Malema was having none of it.
Proceedings have been suspended while Mbete consults with party Chief Whips.
The motion to impeach President Zuma comes after last week's Constitutional Court ruling that found that he violated the Constitution by failing to implement the binding recommendations of the Public Protector.
The Court also found that the National Assembly failed in its duty to hold the Executive to account.
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