The DA in Gauteng has accused other political parties of “standing on the side of corruption and maladministration” after its motion of no confidence against Premier Panyaza Lesufi fell flat during a sitting on Friday.
Parties gathered at the provincial legislature to hear the DA-sponsored motion, which stems from Lesufi’s failure to act in the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal, the unlawful hiring of Amapanyaza traffic wardens, and poor service delivery.
The EFF, Rise Mzansi, Bosa and the IFP, among others, voted against the motion, while the ACDP abstained.
Only the VF Plus supported it.
“It cannot be when Panyaza Lesufi is told that what he has done with Amapanyaza is illegal, he continues to press on, spending over R2 billion and getting the support of all the political parties that have supported him to remain unaccountable and has failed the people of Gauteng,” said Msimanga.
WHY PARTIES VOTED AGAINST THE DA
Rise Mzansi accused the DA of attempting to collapse the Gauteng government ahead of the G20 summit, calling the motion “desperation disguised as democracy” and “political theatrics.”
“The DA’s motion has no roadmap, no plan and no prospects of success. They choose instability over service, they choose to waste the time of our citizens to score political points,” said Vuyisa Ramokgopa.
EFF MP Philip Makwala described the sitting as a “disaster” and questioned what the DA had to offer.
“The EFF’s dissatisfaction with Premier Lesufi is principled and justified. We demand accountability. But the EFF will not be used or collaborate with a party that has publicly insulted us, went to Washington, and called us the enemy of the government or the state,” he said.
ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni said the motion was insufficient to unseat Lesufi. “The numbers simply do not allow it,” he said, before criticising the DA for backtracking on its decision to vote for Lesufi.
“This motion is not driven by principle. It is driven by inconsistency, opportunism and a desire to rewrite their role in Premier Lesufi’s rise,” he said.
