Parliament has moved to assure South Africans that all security measures were in place to ensure the intergrity of the secret ballot when MP's voted on a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma recently. Parliamentary spokesperson, Molotho Mothapo, said in a statement on Wednesday that they've noted the ongoing public debate regarding how certain MP's voted during the secret ballot last Tuesday.
The ANC has said that it would take disciplinary action against those MP's who publicly voiced their opposition to President Zuma. However, the party's Secretary General, Gwede Mantase said there would be no witch-hunt against the more than 20 other ANC MP's who also supported the opposition motion.
Makhosi Khoza, former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas have been outspoken in their criticism of Zuma and his leadership.
Speaking to Algoa FM News on Wednesday, Mothapo said that rigorous confidentiality measures regarding the Motion of No Confidence were similar to those employed in the election of the President and Presiding Officers since 1994.
"The entire process itself was endorsed as beyond reproach and highly confidential by all the parties involved. The entire debate that has been going on as well as the list of names of MP's, who would have voted in a particular manner, is just mere speculation," he said
Mathapo added that Parliament further ensured maximum secrecy of the process by not permitting gadgets in the voting booth and photo journalists with zoom lens cameras were asked to remain in the gallery.
"The ballot boxes were then stored in archive boxes under lock and key and may only be opened by order of the National Assembly Speaker or a court of law," he added.
