GOOD press statement by Patricia de Lille,
GOOD: Party Leader
30 March 2022
GOOD notes the withdrawal of the ill-conceived Motion of No Confidence into the President of the Republic.
While we note the withdrawal of this motion, it is still important that we remain clear about what this constitutional provision was meant for. It is was never intended to be invoked on a whim for the purposes of political point-scoring but only when there was just cause in the interests of the people of South Africa
Former US President Barack Obama once said:
“Democracy doesn’t work if we constantly demonize each other. We know that for progress to happen, we have to listen to each other, see ourselves in each other, and fight for our principles but also fight to find common ground, no matter how elusive that may sometimes seem.”
Our Constitution is very clear, in Section 89, on the grounds on which members of the National Assembly can remove a President from office.
Whether or not you like the President, belong to a different party or support an alternative faction of the ruling party unfortunately doesn’t come into it.
There are only three grounds: A serious violation of the Constitution or law, serious misconduct, or inability to perform the functions of the office.
The Motion of No Confidence in the President in terms of Section 102 of the Constitution fails right there. It doesn’t meet the grounds on which a President can be removed in terms of Section 89.
We had to fight hard for this democracy, and our Constitution, which in its preamble, demands that we: Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.
Our journey has been studded with successes and setbacks.
The greatest setback of all was the introduction of the culture of looting and corruption that has become known as State Capture.
Battered and bruised as we may be, and tight as money is, we remain resolute in our commitment to building our democracy and transforming our society.
We must not bow to populism. Rather, we must contribute to improving the quality of life of all citizens and freeing the potential of each person by reporting evidence of corruption.
We must squeeze the crooks out of their Guccis and into orange overalls. Because that is what our Constitution enjoins us to do.
In any event, we wouldn’t have supported the ATM’s motion had it persisted. We support our democracy and the ideals expressed in our Constitution.
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