SOUTH AFRICA: Date Fixed For Debate of Dissolution of National Assembly

South African Parliament

The programming committee has been informed that Parliament will debate the DA's motion to dissolve the National Assembly on Tuesday, September 5 2017.

The Democratic Alliance has made a statement clarifying that recent events has shown that its time to hold early elections, as a record number of MPs, including those from the African National Congress, voted to remove President Jacob Zuma in the failed motion of no confidence on August 8, 

"The reality is that South Africa cannot afford another two years of ANC governance," DA chief whip John Steenhuisen declared immediately after the historical meeting.

"With over half of South Africans living in abject poverty, 9.3 million of our people without work and our economy showing no signs of being able to recover from the recession, we need a new beginning."

He also confirmed that the drafters of the Constitution included a provision to allow for early elections for this cause.

According to section 50 of the Constitution, the president must dissolve the National Assembly if the majority of its members, 201, adopt a resolution to do so. This can be done three years after the previous election

Democratic Alliance Opposition Leader Mmusi Maimane had called for dissolution of Parliament and holding of a National Election after their No-Confidence motion on Jacob Zuma was defeated

The ANC's parliamentary leaders have stated that DA leader Mmusi Maimane's call for Parliament dissolution and early elections earlier this month is a vindication for them.

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu stated that this showed the DA did not respect democracy and the electorate of SA, who voted the ANC into power, the majority of the DA's opposition partners rejected the call.

ANC Parliamentarians in the National Assembly

The Economic Freedom Fighters said the motion was disingenuous. The United Democratic Movement said it was impractical, as the Electoral Commission of South Africa was not ready to hold early elections.

The Inkatha Freedom Party said the idea required a lot of consideration and money, and should not be taken lightly. The Freedom Front Plus said the DA's motion was opportunistic and would not succeed.