Parliament on Tuesday rejected the MK Party’s motion to censure Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana over his alleged mishandling of the Budget.
This was after MPs voted on the matter following a debate in a mini-plenary that took place last Friday after the party’s former chief whip, Mzwanele Manyi, tabled a motion last month.
In its draft resolution, the MK Party urged the National Assembly to note with grave concern that Godongwana allegedly mishandled the national Budget process.
It stated that the mishandling of the Budget process included the unprecedented postponement of the tabling of the national Budget and the Budget and Fiscal Framework, which contained the regressive and unpopular VAT increase.
According to the party, Godongwana should have been censured for the mishandling of the Budget process as “these events collectively demonstrate a failure to uphold the constitutional principles of accountability, public participation, and sound financial management”.
As the voting commenced on Tuesday, MK Party’s new chief whip Colleen Makhubele asked for the division of the House.
This prompted DA chief whip George Michalakis to enquire whether the party that moved the motion could ask for a division if it was backing it.
House chairperson Werner Horn said the division of the House was allowed in line with the rules.
“If any four or more members demand the division, division is to be given effective,” Werner said.
Announcing the voting results, Werner said the MK Party’s motion garnered just 48 votes in favour, while 250 from other parties opposed the motion.
“The question is accordingly not agreed to,” Horn said when announcing the voting results.
Only the MK Party with its 46 votes and a vote each from the ATM and United African Transformation backed the motion.
The ANC, DA, EFF, IFP, Patriotic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, ACDP, UDM, Rise Mzansi, and the National Coloured Congress voted against.
The Good Party, BOSA, PAC, and Al Jama-ah were not present during the vote.
