CAPE TOWN, South Africa – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has formally submitted a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa, a direct legislative assault on the new Government of National Unity (GNU). The move comes amid a fiery media briefing where the party decried the national budget as a “financial coup against the poor” and a “budget of betrayal.”
The motion was lodged with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Thoko Didiza, on Tuesday. A letter signed by the MK Party’s Parliamentary Leader, Dr. John Hlophe, demands the “urgent convening of a special sitting to debate and vote on the matter within two weeks.” The motion is based on Section 102(2) of the Constitution, which requires the President and Cabinet to resign if a majority of National Assembly members support it.
At a media briefing on their parliamentary work, MK Party leaders articulated the deep-seated opposition that fueled the no-confidence motion. They argued that widespread public demonstrations, including marches against high electricity tariffs, show a collapse in public trust in the President and the GNU’s ability to govern effectively.
A central pillar of their argument is a vehement rejection of the 2025 appropriation bill. The MK Party described the budget, presented by Minister Godongwana, as self-serving and disconnected from the economic struggles of most South Africans . They criticized its failure to address job creation, basic services, and corruption, while pointing to cuts in the police budget despite rising crime . The party expressed particular dismay at President Ramaphosa’s recent parliamentary debate performance, accusing him of dismissing the public’s suffering as a mere “laundry list” .
Furthermore, the briefing referenced serious allegations by Lieutenant General Adam Kuanas of a “deep state criminal network” operating within the government, which the party claims is being funded through the national budget.
“We categorically reject the 2025 appropriation bill,” an MK Party representative stated, calling it a “budget of betrayal” defended by a “coalition of cowards”.
Leading the parliamentary charge is Dr. Hlophe, the controversial former Judge President of the Western Cape High Court who was himself impeached. His immediate tabling of this motion signals an aggressive and confrontational strategy from the opposition benches.
In place of the current government’s agenda, the MK Party put forward proposals for a “radical alternative rooted in sovereignty and redistribution,” including a sovereign wealth fund, a “people’s budget,” and direct community ownership of land and energy infrastructure .
While the motion is unlikely to pass due to the GNU’s clear majority in the National Assembly, it provides the MK Party a significant national platform. The debate will allow them to publicly detail their grievances, challenge the DA’s anti-corruption stance by forcing a vote on what they term a “corrupt” budget, and solidify their role as a powerful opposition force.
The Speaker’s office will now review the motion before scheduling it for debate. The Presidency has yet to issue a formal response.