The Western Cape High Court has reportedly dismissed the African Transformation Movement (ATM)’s application to review National Assembly Thandi Modise’s decision for an open ballot in a vote of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The court ruled on Friday that Modise was correct in her decision for an open ballot, IOL reported.
The ATM, an opposition party with two MPs and allegiances to the ANC’s radical economic transformation faction opposed to Ramaphosa, brought the motion in February last year and went to court in response to Modise’s refusal to allow MPs to vote in secret, according to Mail&Guardian.
Its motion was brought on the basis that the president had misled Parliament on load-shedding, mismanaged the economy and allowed corruption, unemployment and the waste of state resources at parastatals to escalate on his watch.
Before the motion was heard, the ATM had argued that Modise’s decision was “irrational and biased”. It said that the political environment was toxic.
News24 reported on Friday that acting judge James Lekhuleni had dismissed ATM’s application with costs.
“I find that the decision of the speaker was based on sound reasons and not on illegitimate motives and considerations as averred,” Lekhuleni was quoted as saying in his ruling.
Picture: Cape Town Etc gallery