South Africa’s politicians react to Secret Ballot ruling with subtweets

The Secret Ballot (or #SecretBallot) ruling has come and gone but the reaction from politicians are only now filtering through social media.

To clarify, Chief Justice Mogoeng has ruled that Baleka Mbete does in fact have power to declare a secret ballot during the motion of no confidence against President Zuma. Previously she cited the law as a limiting factor.

For some, this is a clear win for South Africa’s justice system, but it also now puts emphasis on Mbete — she can now declare a secret ballot, or choose not to.

As for South Africa’s other politicians, the ruling was a victory, a contentious issue, and a reason to engage in a little subtweeting.

Julius Malema vs Fikile Mbalula: the subtweet saga

As for the latter, we’re talking about EFF leader Julius Malema and current police minister Fikile Mbalula’s tweets.

Mbalula, who has never been shy to smash that tweet button, welcomed the ruling but also threw shade on opposition parties.

“South Africans must guard separation of powers jealously. Mogoeng took the right steps today.We welcome this #SecrerBallot ruling,absolutely [sic],” he tweeted.

South Africans must guard separation of powers jealously. Mogoeng took the right steps today.We welcome this #SecrerBallot ruling,absolutely

— RSA Police Minister (@MbalulaFikile) June 22, 2017

#SecrerBallot ruling teaches Opposition must convince the ANC inside parliament & not run to courts over politics…. why they lost today

— RSA Police Minister (@MbalulaFikile) June 22, 2017

Malema wasn’t having it.

If you think you won, why do you sound so disgruntled. The whole minister left his duties to justify that Parliment won a case

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) June 22, 2017

One thing I know is that this Minister did not read the court papers and will not read this judgment but he’s busy tweeting about it, hai

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) June 22, 2017

Mbalula responded.

#SecretBallot ruling is helpful as is, some disgruntled opposition members are calling us – they’ll vote with ANC Collective on key matters.

— RSA Police Minister (@MbalulaFikile) June 22, 2017

As did Malema.

Your drinking mate Baleka said she doesn’t have discretion to grant secrete ballot. We said she does & the court agreed with us Minister

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) June 22, 2017

But Mbalula had the final word.

“I don’t know where drinking fits in. Last time I checked you were my drinking partner,” he tweets.

I don’t know where drinking fits in. Last time I checked you were my drinking partner. Some amongst us wanted the Speaker to be forced.

— RSA Police Minister (@MbalulaFikile) June 22, 2017

Campaigning, victory speeches and even less confidence

Other politicians refrained from subtweeting and took to campaigning instead, like DA leader Mmusi Maimane.

“My vote is not #secret. Zuma must go,” he tweets, ending the line with #change19.

My vote is not #secret Zuma must go. 9 million unemployed, state run by Guptas, rampant corruption of institutions& SOE’s.We need #change19

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) June 22, 2017

The EFF members were seemingly in full voice on Twitter. Floyd Shivambu praised Justice Mogoeng’s ruling, stating that “Superior Logic always triumphs!”

Superior Logic always triumphs!

— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) June 22, 2017

The Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula welcomed the ruling.

The party’s spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi suggested that the decision calls to question Mbete’s “capacity as speaker”.

That ConCourt had to correct Mbete’s wrong decision again is a statement of no confidence in her capacity as Speaker #SecretBallot

— IG: @MbuyiseniNdlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) June 22, 2017

The UDM’s president Bantu Holomisa took to Facebook with a longer statement.

He suggests that the UDM “has been vindicated with the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the Speaker of the National Assembly could facilitate a secret ballot in a no-confidence motion in President Zuma.”

“We thank our legal team, as well as political parties and civil society organisations who supported us all the way,” he adds.

The DA’s chief whip John Steenhuizen, like Ndlozi, also called into question Mbete’s competence as Speaker of Parliament.

“Once again the Speaker being schooled by the Concourt in how to do her job. When does it start getting embarrassing???,” he tweets.

Once again the Speaker being schooled by the Concourt in how to do her job. When does it start getting embarrassing???

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) June 22, 2017

The ANC and DA respond

And as for parties’ responses, the ANC’s official Twitter account led the charge with a fiercely worded tweet in all-caps.

“#ANC WELCOMES CONCOURT’S REFUSAL TO BE ABUSED BY OPPOSITON PARTIES WANTING TO CO-GOVERN WITH NO POPULAR MANDATE,” it writes.

#ANC WELCOMES CONCOURT’S REFUSAL TO BE ABUSED BY OPPOSITON PARTIES WANTING TO CO-GOVERN WITH NO POPULAR MANDATE pic.twitter.com/UNBz7SAWH3

— Year of OR Tambo (@MYANC) June 22, 2017

The party’s Parliamentary account was a bit more subdued.

ANC Caucus welcomes Concourt Judgement on secret ballot – See more at: https://t.co/fVdVITQBj0#SecretBallot #SecretBallotJudgement pic.twitter.com/u5jSNt8te9

— ANC Parliament (@ANCParliament) June 22, 2017

Finally, the DA reiterated the message of its leader Maimane.

Our vote in upcoming Motion of #NoConfidence in Zuma will be no secret – @MmusiMaimanehttps://t.co/8WeXxCqc76 pic.twitter.com/68hvU2K007

— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) June 22, 2017