Zuma files papers opposing secret ballot in Parliament
Zuma on Thursday filed an affidavit opposing the UDM's application‚ saying that voting by way of an open ballot vote is not unconstitutional
President Jacob Zuma and Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete have both filed answering papers in the United Democratic Movement's (UDM) secret ballot Constitutional Court application. The UDM is seeking the use of a secret ballot in the pending motion of no confidence against the president and has approached the court directly. Zuma on Thursday filed an affidavit opposing the UDM's application‚ saying that voting by way of an open ballot vote is not unconstitutional‚ as claimed by the UDM. “The applicant appears to concede that the Constitution is silent on whether such a vote should be open or secret. This concession already admits that a secret vote is not inconsistent with the relevant provision of the Constitution. For that reason alone‚ the relief sought by the applicant is not competent.” The president also argued that the UDM's claim that MPs participating in the motion of no confidence vote could be intimidated or suffer career-limiting consequences if the vote is done openly...
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