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Cape Town - A call by the EFF for a secret ballot on whether the report by Parliament's powers and privileges committee should be adopted by the National Assembly was vetoed by Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli on Thursday evening.
"We have people that side [the ANC side of the House] who want to vote against it," Economic Freedom Fighters Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu told Tsenoli, pleading for a secret vote.
"The EFF requests... that we vote by secret ballot."
But Tsenoli told him there was no provision for a secret ballot in such circumstances.
"[This] is only applicable in specific instances... when there is more than one candidate nominated for the position of President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
"Votes in the House have always been conducted in an open and transparent manner in the past. No secret ballot will be taken," he ruled.
The motion succeeded by 210 votes to 111, with three abstentions.
EFF leader Julius Malema then asked Tsenoli: "What happens now? Do we go because we are suspended?"
Tsenoli told him: "That will be communicated to you."
The EFF then walked out of the House, where they were greeted by a horde of singing and dancing supporters on the steps of the National Assembly.
