Africa-Press – South-Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa will be stepping into a proverbial bull ring on Wednesday afternoon when he delivers his budget vote address to Parliament.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party wants Ramaphosa to resign by Friday, on Mandela Day, or face a motion of no confidence.
It can be expected that the marathon debate on budget vote 1, the Presidency, will be dominated by recent decisions Ramaphosa has taken involving compromised Cabinet ministers.
Six hours have been set aside for Wednesday’s National Assembly debate on the Presidency.
With a relatively small budget when compared to most government departments, Ramaphosa is expected to tell the House what the key priorities of his Presidency are for the coming financial year.
But with opposition parties outraged by Ramaphosa’s Sunday announcement to establish another commission of inquiry, this time into the police, and to place Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on special leave, it’s the use of his presidential prerogatives that is sure to come under intense scrutiny in the House.
On Wednesday, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) sent the president a lawyer’s letter asking him to clarify his actions, while the MK Party has done the same, calling for him to quit or it will mobilise civil society against him.
The official opposition is also threatening a Constitutional Court challenge if Ramaphosa does not reverse Sunday’s announcement, which includes using his presidential powers to appoint a minister from outside Parliament.
Both the MK Party and the EFF said this provision can’t be used to make an acting appointment.
On Tuesday, opposition parties bemoaned the time taken by Parliament’s rules committee to work out modalities to establish a committee on the Presidency to ensure better year-round oversight of this budget vote.
The president will return to the House on Thursday to respond to Wednesday’s debate.
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