Resignation of Premier better option for opposition parties

Resignation of Premier better option for opposition parties

The Free State Premier Ms MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae is facing mounting pressure from opposition parties in the province following the surfacing of a message from a disgruntled business man implicating the Premier, her husband and Council Speaker of Mangaung Metro Cllr Lawrence Mathae on allegations of receiving or taking a bribe.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State has taken to the picket lines today outside the Premier’s office to demand that she resigns from her office. The party has also opened a case against Letsoha-Mathae for her to be investigated.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province has also made submissions to the HAWKS to investigate the Premier and her husband.

ActionSA has also added to the pressure and made their intentions clear to open a case against the Free State Premier

Calling for MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae to fall on her sword seem to be a better avenue for opposition parties to remove her from office, given that the Free State Legislature has 30 seats and the African National Congress (ANC) occupies 16 of the seats while opposition parties occupy 14 of them.

History has shown that the ANC defends its own; a vote of no confidence in Legislature against the Premier will not succeed as it will require at least a two thirds majority, of which they will need about 20 votes to oust her. Since in total the opposition is 14 men strong, they will have to mobilise the balance from the ruling party.

Chapter 6 of the South African Constitution clause 130 (3)(a) and (b) state that the Premier may be removed from office on the grounds of a serious violation of the Constitution or the law, and serious misconduct.

Even if the Premier may be guilty on all grounds mentioned above, what counts is numbers. Numbers in politics are essential to make serious impact and in driving a certain position.

A vote of no confidence affect other members of the Executive Council, as stated in the Constitution 141 (2), should the Premier be ousted by vote of no confidence by members of Legislature, the Premier and other members of the Executive Council must resign.

This puts pressure on the Executive Council, its either they stand with Letsoha-Mathae to the bitter end, or ask her to resign, or vote with the opposition parties should the allegations be true.

The best option for the opposition now is for her to hand in her resignation; should that happen, Legislature has two options, to either designate an Acting Premier from one of the members of the Executive Council or the Speaker assumes the role until Legislature designates one of its members, in this case, the Speaker of Legislature Mr Mxolisi Dukwana is also implicated in the bribery allegations.

Members of the Executive Council will be watching developments with keen interest, and they must also consider their political future. The actions of the Premier going forward will determine whether she goes down alone, or brings the whole Executive Council down with her.

Members of the Executive Council are also faced with a moral decision to make, if the allegations are false, then by all means stand by their leader, if true, do they ask the Premier to resign or do they vote with the opposition parties in during a vote of no confidence with the hope that they will form part of the new Executive Council?

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