Bantu Holomisa says Mbete is fearmongering in court papers about secret ballot
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has accused the speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, of "unduly raising public alarm" in her opposition to its court application to have a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma decided by way of a secret ballot. On Wednesday, the party’s leader, Bantu Holomisa, filed an affidavit with the Constitutional Court‚ replying to papers filed by Mbete and Zuma. The UDM approached the Constitutional Court after Mbete refused its request to have the motion of no confidence against Zuma conducted by a secret ballot. It argued that an open vote could lead to ANC MPs facing intimidation if they did not toe the party’s line. Both Mbete and Zuma have opposed the UDM’s application. Replying to arguments by Mbete and Zuma that the UDM’s application undermined the doctrine of the separation of powers‚ Holomisa said: "No party in the present litigation‚ and certainly not the applicant‚ intends to dispute the first part of that dictum regarding the Nationa...
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