Carl Niehaus who was expelled from ANC on Monday, and later appealed his expulsion, has argued that although he does not always agree with former president Thabo Mbeki, this time around he is giving good advice.
Mbeki is one of ANC comrades who maintained that Cyril Ramaphosa has a case to answer over his Phala Phala scandal. He said members of parliament have a right to cast a secret ballot.
This comes after Gwede Mantashe, the ANC national chairperson is alleged to have threatened members of parliament that if they vote in favour of the section 89 report on Phala Phala, then they will face the consequences. Ramaphosa’s faction is being accused of using bullying tactics in an attempt to shield the president.
Thabo Mbeki said it is the right of the members of parliament to cast their votes in a secret ballot. This time around, speaker of the national assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denied the secret ballot as proposed by the African Transformation Movement.
This means all ANC members of parliament who will be voting in favour of the section 89 report will be seen and probably suffer the consequences. Critics argue that it seems Ramaphosa is turning his administration to be authoritarian that whoever challenges him will be punished.
Carl Niehaus said Thabo Mbeki is correct to say that members of parliament must vote with their conscience and not be bullied or threatened into submission.
“I do not always agree with president Mbeki, but in this instance he is giving very good advice. Members of Parliament must remember that they are public representatives, and must act in accordance with their conscience,” said Carl Niehaus.
Critics argue that its clear that cadres who are in parliament are never honest and truthful in public. They said if they need to have secret ballots to demonstrate their stand on issues of public interest, then it shows how useless cadres who have no conscience always tow party line.