‘She is highly conflicted’

NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has been criticised by the EFF for bringing Parliament into disrepute over her handling of the Impeachment Committee interdict, and they want oversight of this process to be shifted to the Office of the Deputy Speaker.

- THEOLIN TEMBO

Parties have taken issue with Didiza’s decision not to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’ interdict, and instead file an explanatory affidavit alongside the Impeachment Committee’s opposition papers.

The Speaker previously said that the purpose of the explanatory affidavit is to assist the court with aspects it must consider to make its final determination, including the stringent constitutional obligations on the National Assembly to proceed with and finalise the Section 89 proceedings.

Parliament Spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said that the content of the explanatory affidavit is believed to be consistent not only with the stance adopted by the Impeachment Committee, but also with the actions of the Speaker since the Constitutional Court judgment.

Several parties took umbrage at this decision, feeling that Didiza had abandoned her duty.