When it rains, it pours for Mapisa-Nqakula!

THE acting speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, has agreed to the Democratic Alliance's (DA) request to table a motion of no confidence against Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Mapisa-Nqakula, who is on leave, is facing corruption and money laundering allegations.

Tsenoli has written to DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube, advising her of his decision to accept her proposed motion as being centrally in order.

According to Parliament spokesman Moloto Mothapo on Thursday, 21 March, the acting speaker received a notice of motion from the DA chief whip proposing the removal of the Speaker from office, citing various allegations of improper conduct.

Mothapo said this proposal was made in accordance with Section 54(2) of the Constitution.

"Section 54(2) of the Constitution states that the National Assembly may remove the Speaker or deputy speaker from office by resolution, with a majority of Assembly members present when the resolution is adopted.

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"This section is enacted through Rule 28 of the National Assembly Rules, which specifies that the House may remove the Speaker or deputy speaker from office by resolution, in accordance with Section 52(4) of the Constitution," he said.

He said that in line with the Rules of the Assembly, the acting speaker must give an approved motion under this rule due priority.

"The appropriate scheduling of this motion will be announced once the consultation with the chief whip of the majority party concludes," he said.

Gwarube has welcomed the response from Tsenoli. 

She said the House would now consider the motion in due course and that the rules of the National Assembly would be clear.

"The motion to remove the Speaker or the deputy speaker must be considered urgently. Considering that this Parliament remains competent until May, there is no reason a special sitting of Parliament should not be called as early as next week to consider this important motion," she said.