Deputy National Assembly Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli on Tuesday shot down a proposal from the Democratic Alliance (DA) that cabinet ministers and their deputies be barred from voting on a no confidence motion brought against President Jacob Zuma.

Just before DA leader Mmusi Maimane opened the debate on the motion, Tsenoli ruled that there was no rule or law in the National Assembly which allowed him to ask ministers and their deputies to leave the House when voting commenced.

Tsenoli said ministers were also elected and represented constituents and “should therefore not be deprived of their rights or privileges, nor should the House be deprived of their views”.

The DA wanted a vote by secret ballot and for cabinet ministers to be barred from voting, claiming it represented a “conflict of interest” as ministers were appointed by Zuma.