News / Africa
'Powerful' court ruling in South Africa
22 Jun 2017 at 10:28hrs | Views
South Africa's constitutional court has ruled that the speaker of parliament does have the discretion to request a secret ballot in a vote of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma.
In a powerful ruling in which he touched upon issues of bribery, conflict of interest and fear, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said under the principle of separation of powers it was up to the speaker of parliament to decide how the vote is conducted.
Mr Zuma has faced mounting allegations of corruption and impropriety and faced criticism from within his own party.
Yet it was feared that members of the governing ANC would be reluctant to vote openly against him for fear of reprisals.
A new date for a motion of no confidence now has to be set.
In a powerful ruling in which he touched upon issues of bribery, conflict of interest and fear, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said under the principle of separation of powers it was up to the speaker of parliament to decide how the vote is conducted.
Yet it was feared that members of the governing ANC would be reluctant to vote openly against him for fear of reprisals.
A new date for a motion of no confidence now has to be set.
Source - BBC
