Western Cape legislature to debate Zille impeachment

Johannesburg - A debate on whether or not Western Cape Premier Helen Zille should be impeached is expected to be held at the provincial legislature on Tuesday.

The ANC in the province chairperson Marius Fransman gave notice on Monday of the intention to impeach Zille.

He said the ruling party believed there were legal grounds to have Zille democratically removed as premier. Zille was not fit to proceed as premier, Fransman said.

However, in her government newsletter published on Monday, Zille said the debate would turn out to be nothing but "ANC grandstanding".

The ANC brought the notion to the legislature in terms of Section 130(3) of the National Constitution and would have to prove the premier was guilty of serious misconduct; violation of the constitution or the law or unable to perform the functions of her office.

Zille said it was a "frivolous and vexatious motion" which undermined the serious purpose for which this constitutional clause was intended.